Start a thriving eco-community in your church without having to figure it out alone.
Whether you have acres of land, a tiny churchyard, or just a few enthusiastic people, being part of the Hazelnut Network gives you the practical tools, training, resources and ongoing support to help your church connect Creator, Creation and Community. We’d love to welcome your church or community project!
Unsure where to begin? You don't have to start from scratch.
Become part of a supportive network sharing ideas, encouragement and inspiration throughout the year. With Hazelnut Network’s guidance and support, your church will benefit from our ready-to-use resources and grow in confidence and in connection with other churches also exploring their own road map and solutions to climate breakdown.
With over 54 Hazelnut resources already written, there’s plenty to explore. Every season, you’ll find fresh ideas to help your community connect faith, creation and everyday life, including:
Teaching ideas rooted in Bible texts and stories
Prayers for outdoors, gatherings and church services
Creative crafts and hands-on garden projects
Activities supporting wellbeing and connection
Big questions that help us explore and respond to ecological breakdown
Take a look below for some examples of what’s available.
Everything you need to build a growing community
Our Potting Shed training gives you the practical tools, ideas and support you need to grow a community around your church land, from the first conversation through to getting people involved and building something that lasts.
You’ll receive:
Practical training and expert advice, whatever your experience
Live Q&As with churches already growing communities
Starter documents covering budgets, safeguarding, health and safety and more
Help shaping a project that fits your church, land and neighbourhood
Ideas for worship and connecting faith with the garden
Practical guidance for getting started and growing your community over time
Join Hazelnut Network to Access our Resources
Click for Autumn Resources
Click for Winter Resources
Click for Christmas Resources
Click for Spring Resources
Click for Summer Resources
Click for Creator, Creation, Community Resources
Click for Small Group Resources
FAQs
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We want to keep our costs affordable so that everybody who wants to is able to join. By joining you can access all of our resources, training, support, and input.
Small groups with up to 10 members pay £10 per month.
Churches with up to 30 members pay £25 per month.
Churches with between 30 and 100 members pay £35 a month.
Churches with over 100 members pay £50 a month.
Churches that are multi-church benefices can pay one amount for all of your churches. The amount to be paid is the amount of members across all churches.
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It can take a bit of time to sign up to the network. It takes time speaking to all the right people and organizing a start. With this in mind we have created a template that can be used to help create a proposal paper. This would work well for things like a PCC. At the bottom of this section is a red button that you can click to download the template.
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The value of new resources, world-class input, support, and training outways the monthly cost.
But there is added value for a church as it saves time in planning for a leader and adds creativity that does not need to be created from scratch.
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Bursaries are available. When signing up there is an option to request a bursary.
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Yes! Hazelnut is a Partner in Action with A Rocha UK, and we are big fans of their work. A Hazelnut Community sits well alongside Eco Church and helps with many of the categories.
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Absolutely. One of our Hazelnut Communities is located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The issues we face in ecological breakdown are worldwide. As we face living in these times the conversation must be one of listening and engaging beyond our own contexts. All are welcome.
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We want to equip Christian communities to engage with creator, creation, and community regardless of the amount of land you have. From growing in pots to windowsills we will help you think creatively!
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It will depend on what you aim to do. We encourage groups to start with something manageable and grow as needed. There is very little start-up money needed; this is explored in greater detail in our Potting Shed training.
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Then this is perfect for you. We are passionate about empowering people to give it a go. Everyone is welcome from first-time growers to experienced gardeners.
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Our resources are flexible and can fit in with where you are at. You could start as a home group, a monthly group, or bi-monthly. Start with who is keen to join and always welcome people from you community to join as well. Before you know it you will be growing with people who don’t usually come to church.
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No. we want it to be properly ecumenical. Join if you are liberal, conservative, high church, low church, rural, estate, urban, suburban, cathedral, or some keen allotment folks. All are welcome!