LAST week I took part in Ilkley Playhouse’s Bard in the Yard production of Shakespeare’s The Tempest.

This reminded me that a couple of years ago I had seen the play in Stratford. Programme notes informed us that, when The Tempest was first performed in 1611, the northern hemisphere was undergoing huge climate change (the so-called ‘Little Ice Age’). The 2022 production wanted to focus on the enormous climate and ecological emergency we in turn are now facing, by highlighting the use and abuse of natural resources on the island where the play’s action is set.

Since coming to the area last September, I have been impressed by the number of organisations and groups formed to try to tackle our climate emergency. Among so many local initiatives, I was delighted to discover how enthusiastically the community at St John Fisher and St Thomas More, Burley-in-Wharfedale had responded to the call from Pope Francis to an ‘ecological conversion’. The parish has worked tirelessly over the last few years and gained a CAFOD Live Simply sustainability award for actions put into place throughout the parish; that is, to live simply, to live sustainably with creation, and to live in solidarity with the poor.

Parishioners have tried to incorporate these Live Simply principles into the community by involving different groups within the parish. Attractive, insect friendly shrubs, flowers and bulbs have been planted in our church garden. Parish children have environmental liturgies to discuss nature; they have grown plants from seeds, and have built Easter gardens, a bug house, a hedgehog hotel, a herb raised bed, and bird and bat boxes. LED lights and double glazing in the church and the hall have been installed.

Parishioners have been encouraged to install solar panels and replace gas boilers with heat pumps, and to recycle batteries and blister packs. Together with other churches, parishioners have collected clothes and food for families in need.

I am very grateful to Keith Pitcher and Frances Atkins who have helped me to put this ‘Thought for the Week’ together, and to all in our Live Simply group. This is just one small example of all the marvellous climate action work that takes place throughout our area. We owe a deep debt of gratitude to so many who are taking a lead as we try to address our climate challenge.