Lorraine
Forest Church Co-ordinator
In today’s chaotic world, it’s so important to give people chance to pause, breathe, connect with nature and find community. I want people at Forest Church to find space to explore spirituality and encourage each other in finding ways to live lives that are kinder to each other and to nature. And have an enormous amount of fun, of course!
Favourite nature space: My garden and Harlow Carr Garden in Harrogate.
Amy
Circuit Youth Worker and Forest Church Project Support
Having worked with people of ALL ages, I know the benefits of getting outside and reconnecting with nature for everyone! Forest Church, for me, is all about offering that opportunity to reconnect with nature, with ourselves, and with something deeper than ourselves. It’s about bringing our questions, fears and doubts into focus and letting the natural world guide us through dealing with them!
Favourite nature space: Anywhere with a beautiful view, especially of God’s own county – Yorkshire! (this one is from Roseberry Topping>>>)
Kay
Haxby Team
Forest Church is a gentle way to slow the pace of your life as you meet with others and explore your beliefs. By being curious about the nature all around, we experience the awe, beauty, and wonder of creation!
Favourite nature space: Moorlands Nature Reserve, or sitting on my garden swing, listening to the birdsong while cloud watching. My idea of ’Perfect Peace.’
Alyson
Local Lay Pastor (Heworth)
As young children, teenagers, and on every return visit, our parents encouraged my siblings and I in many outdoor activities. Pets, growing veg, sailing and learning woodland skills enhanced our appreciation of the importance of caring for the countryside around us. It also helped with my Forest School Leader’s training!
There is something about being within God’s Creation that encourages us to pause in awe and wonder whatever the weather!
Watching little insects hard at work, fungi of all shapes on ‘deadwood’, emerging seedlings and noting changing leaf colours can be steps towards really noticing the impact humans can have on the ways in which all of creation is connected.
For me, Forest Church is a way of offering a creation space in which people can re-claim quieter times and reflect on how they, as human beings, can tread on this earth more gently.
Favourite nature space: being out in Chalhanger woods – our dad’s woods in North Devon – grounding and leaning into the curves of the oldest beech tree.
Sarah Wright
Young people and Families Worker (Heworth Methodist Church)
Being out in nature gives our minds chance to switch off, gives us space to breathe and just be. It’s a great place to find inspiration.
Favourite nature space: These are always by water. I especially like sitting by York’s River Ouse, or walking by the River Wharfe in Tadcaster.
Victoria Etherington
Young Adult and University Chaplain
I am not outdoorsy at all – I am famous for my dislike of camping, and don’t understand the concept of walking for pleasure!! However, having an energetic dog and quite a big garden – with chickens, a vegetable patch and a greenhouse – means I spend a lot of time outside. I am also very fond of eating outdoors…and so I have concluded that I am outsidey!
Favourite nature space: On the swing in my garden – there is something very liberating about the sensation of flying through the air!
