Oxford Climate Choir urges Church to rewild its land

The Oxford Climate Choir, part of the national Climate Choir Movement, will perform at the University Church and outside Christ Church Cathedral on Saturday, June 20, to call for rewilding on Church-owned land.

Their performance supports a motion put forward by the Reverend Canon Valerie Plumb and is set to be debated at July’s Church of England General Synod in York.

He is calling for 30 per cent of Church land to be restored for nature by 2030, in line with the global ’30×30′ target for nature recovery.

Joanna Gill, musical director of the Oxford Climate Choir, said: “Revd Canon Valerie Plumb has shown courageous and hopeful leadership in bringing this motion forward.

“At a time when people are searching for signs of moral leadership on the climate and nature crises, this proposal offers the Church a chance to act with vision, compassion and responsibility.

“We hope Synod members will come together behind this historic opportunity to restore nature and leave a lasting legacy for future generations.”

More than 100 clergy and Synod members have already backed the motion, ensuring it will be formally debated in July.

The Oxford performance forms part of a wider campaign organised by the Climate Choir Movement and rewilding group Wild Card, both of which are urging Synod members to back the motion.

The Church of England, with more than 100,000 acres managed by the Church Commissioners, is one of the UK’s largest landowners.

Wild Card, supported by naturalist Chris Packham, has long campaigned for the Church to set aside 30 per cent of its estate for rewilding and nature restoration.

Hazel Draper, co-founder of Wild Card, said: “The Church of England is one of the country’s major landowners and has the potential to become a national leader in nature recovery.

“This motion is an opportunity to show real ambition at a critical moment and demonstrate that the Church is serious about responding to the climate and biodiversity crises.”

Environmental advocates note that the Church Commissioners have previously agreed to divest from fossil fuels, and many see the current motion as another opportunity to show ethical and environmental leadership.

Campaigners argue that restoring 30 per cent of Church land could be cost-neutral, and possibly even profitable, according to the ‘Getting Back to the Garden’ report commissioned by Wild Card.

They believe this example could show other large landowners that environmental ambitions are compatible with financial responsibility.