Dates: 1st–6th October (with an optional extension to 8th October for additional rest and reflection)

Location: Boarbank Hall (Allithwaite, Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria, LA11 7NH)

Cost: £100-£170 per night (depending on room size, see rates here), donation only for low earners.

To celebrate the Jubilee Year of St Francis, together with Sr Margaret Atkins of Boarbank Hall, we are running a retreat to re-energise those who are committed to living their faith in hope.

Join us for a week of talks, art, walks, liturgy and gardening!

For more information and how to book, visit www.boarbankhall.org.uk, or email Sr Margaret on margaret@boarbankhall.org.uk.

Joy of Limits

Location: FCJ Centre for Spirituality and EcoJustice, 32 Phoenix Road, Somers Town, London NW1 1TA (7 minutes walk from Euston Station)

Event date: Saturday 6th June

Event type: In-person Day Retreat

Day begins: 10am
Day end: 4pm (Optional Vigil Mass at 4:30pm)

“Unless these things are appreciated artistically they are not appreciated at all.”  G.K. Chesterton
 
The retreat will be a day full of contemplation, talks, discussion, observational and imaginative drawing and sharing some simple food. There is no need to be an accomplished artist to enjoy the day, even those who think they can only draw a stickman will find a day of calm reflection and fellowship.
 
"The Joy of Limits” is led by Sr MaryAnne Francalanza, a Faithful Companion of Jesus and director of the FCJ Centre for Spirituality and EcoJustice, and John Paul de Quay who is an illustrator and director of the Ecological Conversion Group charity.

In case you missed us earlier this year, we are excited to offer a second opportunity to explore the materials from our debut ‘Art of Limits’ retreat held in February.

Basic art materials will be provided on the day. Please feel free to bring your own dry media, pens or watercolour equipment if you wish.

Refreshments included.
A simple vegetarian lunch will be provided. Please let us know of any dietary requirements (we can only cater for gluten free and/or dairy free) by emailing: chee@theecg.org

If you would like to enquire for a subsidy please email: chee@theecg.org

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Wednesday 22nd April at 6.30pm at WWF Living Planet Centre

Join WEAct (Woking Environment Action) at the WWF centre in Woking on Wednesday 22nd April at 6.30pm for a special screening of the film, “The People’s Emergency Briefing”. This eye opening 45 minute film brings together nine leading UK experts, presenting the latest evidence impacting extreme weather, food security, health, and the cost of living. There are contributions from Chris Packham, Deborah Meaden and a range of voices from across the UK. One of the film’s experts (Angela Francis, Director of Policy Solutions at WWF UK) will be there to reflect on the film and its themes. After the screening, there will be a short open discussion about what this means for our community and what we can do locally. Local MP Will Forster will be attending and local councillors and candidates in the upcoming elections are also invited to join constituents for this important conversation about our future. Seats are limited but free. Please book ahead, using this link. To find out more click here.

Quiz Night is back!

Join us on Saturday 6th June at 7pm for a fun fundraising evening in aid of the Ikutha sustainable farming project in Kenya.

Teams of up to 8 people · Tickets just £12 (including lamb or veggie biryani!) · Bar available · Prizes for the winners 🏆

📋 Download the form, fill in your team details and return it to the St Dunstan’s parish office or St Hugh's presbytery by Wednesday 27th May. Places are limited — get your team together soon!

Questions? Contact livesimply@st-dunstans.org

These will return on the weekend of 14th/15th February at all Masses!

Free Seeds, Plants, and Produce Swaps. Reduce waste by sharing your surplus seeds, plants and produce.

These will continue at both St Dunstan’s and St Hugh’s on the following weekends:

14th/15th March

18th/19th April

16th/17th May

20th/21st June

18th/19th July

15th/16th August

9th/20th September

17th/18th October

(If you wish to make a donation, you can do so with Cash or by using the Dona Card Machines)

All proceeds to support the work of the work of the Poor Servants of the Mother of God, Ikutha, Kenya, our parish project.

Monthly draws for those that have purchased Jackpot numbers are held on the 3rd weekend of every month (the same weekend as the Plant/Seed swaps).

The Parish Ikutha Project is going well and Sr Munanie has told us that they are now beginning the second phase of the sustainable farming project in Ikutha.

We encourage you to take part this year and havethe chance to win prizes and contribute to the Parish project - all at the same time! You can read more about the project here and fill out the form to join the Jackpot Club by clicking the link below. Or contact Sarah on the LiveSimply team at livesimply@st-dunstans.org

We now have a recycling box at both churches for used ballpoint pens, felt tips, and marker pens. Please collect your empties and put them in the boxes, as they can be used to create new pens. At St Hugh’s, please place them in the plastic basket on the lower shelf in the narthex. At St Dunstan’s, please use the special “Edding” collection box on the table in the narthex. Please do not use the boxes for non plastic items, such as pencils, which cannot be recycled in this way. If you have colouring pencils or crayons that you no longer need, but which can still be used, (including felt tip pens), please consider donating them to St Dunstan’s children’s liturgy and toddler prayers. Dominique would love to hear from you - click the button below to email.

Every Month 2025

Woking Repair Cafe volunteers can help with free repairs to small electricals, garden tools, furniture and clothes and textiles. These events run regularly so check their website.

The Fairtrade buying guide for 2025 is out. It’s an essential directory for buying Fairtrade, listing all the Fairtrade products and companies and an online shop.

Recording available

A very special combined event was hosted by the Southern Dioceses Environment Network and the Northern Dioceses Environment Group on 4th June 2025 to mark the tenth anniversary of Pope Francis Papal Encyclical ‘Laudato Si’ – On the Care of Our Common Home (2015).

Austen Ivereigh, the guest speaker helped us reflect on the last 10 years of Laudato Si’ and where we are called in the next 10. He deepened a reflection on the method that Pope Francis adopts to respond to the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor, using a broad SEE-JUDGE-ACT model. The first stage is to enter the crisis and open our eyes to places where there is pain and suffering. What is happening to our Earth? The second task is discernment: finding where God’s action can be seen and what frustrates God’s action. The third was to move to proposals for action in line with the Kingdom, confident that what is aligned with the arc of the Kingdom is never wasted.

He suggested that the Laudato Si’ apostolate can be considered as enabling these three tasks: (a) helping people to see what is happening to our Earth and to help people experience grief and the desire to repent; (b) helping people enter into an understanding of what is happening (as does Laudato Si’ in chapters three and four); and (c) enabling processes of synodal discernment that move through these two stages into concrete actions.

Woking Environment Action (“WEAct”) is working to find out where hedgehogs are living in our area (in order to help them survive). To this end, it has a number of night vision wildlife cameras that are free to borrow. WEAct is happy for locals to borrow the cameras, even if they are unsure what wildlife visits their garden at night. If you would like to see what goes on in your garden, when you are asleep, (and amuse your children in the holidays), use this link to find out more:-Woking Hedgehogs. There is a simple form to complete and you will need to provide proof of your address and pay a £20 returnable deposit. Have fun (and let us know what you discover)!

This project connects those with surplus garden/allotment produce and community groups such as foodbanks and community fridges to share the surplus and avoid it going to waste. Last year's highlights included 110 pumpkins and 4 crates of apples. So far this year, we have helped redistribute over 50kg of greengages, gooseberries and mirabelle plums.

Read more about the project by clicking the link below and also about urban gleaning, using the free Mundraub Navigator app to find what fruit/nut trees/bushes are growing in your area and to map your own foraging finds.

If pollinators designed gardens, what would humans see? Anyone from beginner to experienced gardener can use our algorithmic tool to create unique gardens for endangered bees, butterflies, and other essential pollinators to flourish in. Transform your garden into a living artwork for other species to enjoy. As planbting season is upon us, why not check this out and see what you could create in your own garden.

Monthly all Year

Knpahill Methodist Church have a dedicated team of volunteers who welcome families and individuals, offering them time to look for suitable clothes for their needs. They run a monthly clothes bank and there is a wonderful atmosphere of chatting and laughing to which all are welcome. If you, or you know of anyone who, could benefit from this service, please find out more on their website by clicking the link below.  They have a HUGE amount of clothing available FREE for babies, children, teenagers and adults. 

The Home Energy Advice Taskforce is back, with an expanded team covering (almost) every corner of Surrey! If you’ve not heard about HEAT, they can provide free home energy visits, including a thermal imaging survey, bespoke advice, and referrals to grants and funding you may be eligible for. Click through to book a survey.

We all know that the first Christmas was simplicity itself, yet our modern celebrations often

generate huge amounts of waste. It is said that 12,500 tonnes of Christmas ornaments and

decorations alone (not including cards, wrapping paper, or food) end up in landfill each year.

Moreover, plastic decorations, such as tinsel, are usually not recyclable and are often highly toxic;

meaning that they can pose a danger to wildlife and the environment. One way to celebrate more

simply and sustainably is to make your own Christmas decorations. Sustainable Jungle has come up

with 13 DIY Christmas decoration ideas, from orange pomanders and dried citrus slices to snow

globes. Why not have fun trying your hand at some of them this Christmas, using the link below.