At Woodies, we are keen love God's creation and our People + Planet group is key in helping us to reduce our impact on the environment as a church. Our monthly EcoChallenges help everyone in church to take part from home. This month, David Parker shares the some helpful tips for how to get involved.
July 2021: EcoChallege - “Get a Water Butt”
This month’s challenge has been on my to-do list for a while – get a water butt! I’m increasingly aware as we go into the summer months that we use a lot of tap water watering our garden and that seems a shame when so much rainwater flows down our gutters into the drains throughout the year.
Water butts are a great way to save water, this also can lower your carbon footprint because treating and pumping water does use a significant amount of energy. Your plants will grow better too - most plants actively prefer being watered with rainwater, which contains some of the natural minerals they need to thrive. Finally water butts can even reduce flood risk by holding water from summer storms which would otherwise go quickly into the drains and then rivers.
A few practical tips:
You can buy them from most DIY stores, online or even order them from Bristol Water
Keep the lid securely fastened to stop wildlife or debris getting in
Use the water on established plants, but now new seedlings (to prevent possible fungal infection)
One thing you need to be aware of is legionella bacteria, which can multiply if the water temperature gets above 20ᵒC. If possible, site a water butt in the shade, or you can get a reflective jacket for it to keep it cool. Do use a watering can, but don’t use water from a water butt with a spray or a hose as they make it much more likely that bacteria could be inhaled. Washing your hands after gardening is always a good idea too.
It’s recommended that you clean your water butt every year (once the summer is over)
If you want to read up more here is an article from the Royal Horticultural Society:
GET INVOLVED WITH PEOPLE + PLANET
If you’d be interested in finding out more about the Woodlands People + Planet group, or have some feedback about the challenges, connect with us: