Eco Church- St Mary’s Overton

07/06/2026

Great news on Overton’s Green Weekend 🌳😍

05/06/2026

The Eco Church Mindfulness Walk is set up and ready for you to enjoy as part of Overton’s Green Weekend.
It starts in the church porch.
I hope you can take some time to enjoy it, relax, connect with nature, and see this special part of our village in a new light.

Sustainable Overton

04/05/2026

So happy to hear our hard work in making the churchyard more insect friendly is paying off!

Solitary bees and pollinating insects of Overton, Hants
Sustainable Overton
Natural Basingstoke
Caring for God's Acre
A Rocha UK

02/04/2026

Fancy carbon fasting for Lent?

Day 38 . We'll post a new idea each day

02/04/2026

Fancy carbon fasting for Lent?

Day 36 . We'll post a new idea each day

02/04/2026

This final week has been a lovely one for the Carbon Fast for Lent. Unfortunately my work in week has been incredibly full on 🤯 and so I did not have time to do the Facebook posts, but I was able to fulfil the prompts 🎉 I’ll focus on a few prompts over the next few days before Easter Sunday! 🌅

🌱 🌹🌿💐🍄🌸🍁🍀🌺🍃🌳🌷☘️🌻🌾🌼🪷🪻Today I am going to look at the prompts from the 25th and 27th of March- to plant a seed, and to ask Basingstoke Green Team to come and survey your garden. They will then advise on what you should plant to improve your garden for nature.

My love of gardening started during COVID a new mum in a new build house 🏠 with few friends in the area. I was feeling low and looked out at the blank garden and thought- “I can do something with that”. 💪🏼 I didn’t know about the opportunity for a Green Team garden survey, but I read a lot of books 📚 to find out what was good to plant. 5 years on and my garden is flourishing. I’ve added trees and shrubs, long grassy patches and a tiny pond 💦in a sink. I’ve got wood piles 🪵for insects 🦟 🐞🪲🦗🕷️and chosen plants that flower at all different times of years so that there is always food for the pollinators🐝. This year I’ve got 🐦‍⬛🪺blue t**s and blackbirds nesting and I’ve already seen yellow brimstone butterflies 💛🦋. It’s brought me so much joy and helped bring me out of quite a difficult place. ☺️
Very little beats the feeling of watching a flower bloom or of tasting fruit that you have nurtured from a seed. It’s amazing for children to grow up in a garden that they share with so much of God’s Creation. 👶 🧒 ❤️

I planted lots of seeds this week. You can see them in the pictures.

If you are interested in a garden survey you can find out more at the link below:

https://www.basingstoke.gov.uk/garden-survey

Sustainable Overton
St Mary's, Overton
A Rocha UK
Natural Basingstoke

22/03/2026

Fancy carbon fasting for Lent?

Day 33 . We'll post a new idea each day

22/03/2026

Today’s Carbon Fast prompt for lent is to take a reusable coffee cup or bottle with you. I took my awesome Big Church Festival cup out with me to Andover Clip and Climb today.

🥤🧃🧋☕️Did you know that by using a reusable coffee cup and water bottle, you can make a significant impact on the environment? Here’s why it matters:

1. ⬇️Reduce Waste: Single-use coffee cups contribute to the 300 million tons of plastic waste produced globally each year 🗑️🗑️🗑️🗑️🗑️🗑️. By switching to reusables, you help reduce this staggering number!

2. 🌍 Conserve Resources; The production of disposable cups requires trees 🌳 , water 💧 , and energy ⚡️ . Reusable options cut down on these resources, helping to preserve our planet for future generations. 🌍

3. ☠️ Microplastics Awareness: Many takeaway cups contain microplastics, which can leach into your drink, especially in hot beverages ☕️. Did you know that *coffee* has been found to contain some of the ⬆️ highest levels of microplastics? This is due to the processing and packaging methods used. I also have stainless steel water bottles for my kids for the same reasons.

Make the switch today! Bring your own cup and bottle, and enjoy your favorite drinks without the guilt. 💚🌱💧

Sustainable Overton
St Mary's, Overton
A Rocha UK

21/03/2026

Day 32 and we are thinking about how we clean our house…
So many 🧼🧽🧹cleaning products contain awful chemicals that may not only be harmful ☠️ to our own health, but may also get into our water system 💧 and have toxic effects when we rinse and flush away.
There are alternatives that have been used for many years 💯 , and many of them work better than expensive brands.

My favourite is an item that you can buy in The Village Refillery Overton, and that is citric acid 🍋.

🚽✨ Did you know citric acid is a powerful and natural toilet cleaner? Here’s how it works:
1. 🦠 Natural Antimicrobial: Citric acid helps kill bacteria and germs, keeping your toilet hygienic.
2. 🫟 Stain Remover: It breaks down mineral deposits and stains, making those pesky rings disappear.
3. 🍋 Freshens Up: The citrus scent leaves your bathroom smelling fresh and clean.

To use, simply sprinkle citric acid in the bowl, let it sit for about 30 minutes ⏰ , scrub with a toilet brush, and flush! Say goodbye to harsh chemicals and hello to a sparkling clean toilet! ✨ 🚽

I thought about including a picture of my own toilet before and after, but that felt like a step too far 🤣 so here is a YouTube video I found…

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=b00xobWZO3Y

Sustainable Overton
St Mary's, Overton
A Rocha UK

How to clean a toilet from limescale, stains, rust and rusty streaks. I will show you a cheap way to remove limescale and rust from a toilet.How to Clean Toi...