St Mary's Church in Dorchester is aiming to get an eco-award

The award is granted by A Rocha UK, a Christian charity working for the protection and restoration of the natural world.

To achieve the award the church needs to show that it is taking steps to become eco-friendly.

An action plan has been created to help further the church’s goal and it has been working with other groups and organisations in the community.

A spokesman for St Mary’s Church said they have been working with Dorset Wildlife Trust to improve the church’s bio-diversity.

For example, water butts have been installed to help reduce the church’s water consumption in the summer months, and compost bins to provide natural fertiliser.

A hedgehog hotel has been installed on the grounds with support and advice of the Dorset Small Mammals Group.

The church cleaners have switched to eco-friendly cleaning products.

And it has changed its heating supplier to Opus Energy which will provide 100% renewable energy.

Meanwhile, the church is applying to Low Carbon Dorset for a grant to change the church and hall lighting to low energy LED lighting.

It’s also fundraising to twin its toilets through activities including a ‘guess the weight of the toilet cake’ competition. It now has almost enough money to twin the remaining thee toilets.

The spokesman said they will be working with students from Damers First School next month.

He added: “We have all been working towards reducing our plastic usage. The staff and students are also committed to reducing plastic usage and have contacted us to invite St Mary’s to join in a very exciting initiative they are running to help Dorchester achieve Surfers Against Sewage Plastic Free Community Status. The students will be visiting St Mary’s on Mothering Sunday to talk about the project.”

The church hopes to run an open day and environmentally themed flower festival at the church during its patronal festival weekend in August, where members of the church’s eco-project group will be sharing what they’ve been doing.