The Diocese of Bath and Wells places caring for our world at the heart of its values. In 2020 we committed to achieve Net Zero by 2030 and have been working hard to achieve this goal across all our 564 churches, 181 schools and more than 200 clergy properties. 

We also recognise that biodiversity is a vital foundation for supporting this work and for safeguarding the future of the planet we have been entrusted to care for. We have an Environment Group, which has representatives from across our organisation, and it plays a key role in ensuring that these priorities are embedded in the our decision making and action at every level. 

With our diocesan Support Services office, Wells Cathedral and our Bishops’ office based in the city we feel very much a part of the Wells community. Three years ago, the diocesan office gained a silver Eco Church award. Now, we are actively working towards achieving gold. Recent initiatives undertaken at the office include an insect hotel, bat box and solitary bee habitats, built a pond and we are preparing for our 2025 species survey during Churches Count on Nature week in June.

In 2021, we pioneered a partnership with Somerset Wildlife Trust called Wilder Churches, which now supports one-third of our 545 churches in managing their churchyards to better support wildlife. We’re excited about the opportunity to work with WEN, to share more about what we are doing and to collaborate with others who share our commitment to caring for the environment.