The youth group at Christ Church Downend in north east Bristol was featured on BBC One’s Songs of Praise planting trees for the Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC), an initiative created to mark the Platinum Jubilee this year.
“It was a fun day and a privilege to be a part of the Queen’s Green Canopy,” said Diane Paddon, Head of Youth Ministry at Christ Church Downend.
In November last year, the Songs of Praise crew filmed a group of 20 volunteers from the youth group as they planted two copses in a field on Bristol’s outskirts. The 15-strong copses are a mixture of oak, crab apple, hawthorn and blackthorn trees.
Diane said: “For several years, once a month, the youth group at Christ Church Downend have taken part in Serving Sunday, where we put our faith in action and show God’s love to the community in practical ways.
“Over the years we have built strong relationships with the community, the Parish Council, members of local Friends Groups, staff of local schools and local residents, as we have been that visible presence, making a difference, serving the community.
“Serving Sundays have included planting bulbs in green spaces and grass verges, litter picking, planting trees, laying a woodchip path in a local park, baking cakes for residents of a local care home amongst other things.
“We have also led Summer Super Serving Sundays, encouraging the whole church to get involved with painting the boundary fence of a local Infants School, and cleaning the railings of a local park.”
Images: credit Diane Paddon 2021