Following the Pevensey Castle and the Pevensey Haven circular, a walk can take you through one of Southern Britain’s most ecologically rich wetlands. The Pevensey Levels stretch across many hectares of protected site of special scientific interest.
To walk there is to step into a world alive with stillness and sounds. Reed warblers can sing, then herons appear above with the occasional geese honking as grass whispers in the wind. Below there are bream, carp, pike, roach, chub, tench and perch swimming.
As you may know, originally the sea lapped the base of Pevensey Castle, but today it is a mile away edged back by centuries of land reclamation and natural processes. However, freshwater still shapes life there. Not all the wildlife is easy to see. The lapwing, once common, is now red listed in the UK, so are the yellow wagtail and snipe. Amphibians, such as the great crested newt, protected under EU and UK law, rely on clean water.
We are all aware of the companies that we rely upon for our water every time we turn on the tap. There is a campaign for our beaches and seas to be tested all year round.
These are good illustrations that God has given us dominion over creation, but this does not mean that we are free to pillage or abuse the earth’s resources. We are responsible and accountable to him, with a mandate to, among other things, find ways to put back and then add more, than we have taken out of it. A farmer knows that a fertile field becomes a dustbowl if ways are not taken to maintain and replenish the soil.
To attempt to rectify some of the Pevensey issues, groups have been busy for the last 8 years reprofiling ditches, setting culverts and creating pools to welcome water birds, with deeper ponds dug. As a result rare species have returned, such as molluscs, the hairy dragonfly and a huge number of rare aquatic invertebrates and plants, with thousands of green winged orchids.
Two pieces of news that I have heard recently. I heard of a survey that made me very sad. Two thirds of young people have never heard of a sermon on climate change and the environment, despite a few church leaders taking a lead. Also, for the forthcoming conference in Brazil, a road is being made by cutting through the Amazon, which to me is going against the very principle of the very reason of the conference, which is to cooperate over ways to safeguard the earth and its resources.
What about us? We can play our small part, too, which, when taken as a whole, will make a huge difference.
- by conserving energy by having LED bulbs and turning off electronics when not needed.
- by having shorter showers and fixing leaks as soon as possible.
- by not running the tap whilst brushing your teeth.
- by recycling, composting when possible and reducing the use of single use plastics.
- by reducing your meat consumption and trying to opt for locally sourced produce.
- by creating your own wildlife friendly garden, patio or balcony.
In his letter to the Romans, Paul says “ever since creation of the world, God’s eternal power and divine nature, invisible though they are, have been understood and seen through the things he has made”. Then, bluntly, he says, “People have no excuse at all”.
Through the actions of each of us, the church and individuals, groups and governments, we are all responsible, rather than turning the other way.
This is a prayer from Christian Aid which helps us:
Loving God, you are the creator of all things, the earth and everything in it. Forgive us the times we have neglected your creation and remind us to care for the world with the love and respect it deserves.
Living Christ, you walked among us and showed us the beauty of God’s handiwork. Help us to follow your example in nurturing and protecting nature, bringing healing and renewal to the environment.
Holy Spirit, fill us with a deep reverence for the earth and all its inhabitants. Inspire us to act as faithful stewards of your creation, working tirelessly to sustain and restore the world we share. Amen.