The sun has started coming out, spring is here and the Columban’s new project ‘Flourish’ has launched! The vision is to help see young people explore nature and faith in the beautiful grounds here at St. Columbans, connecting care for creation with the nature on their doorstep, as well as thinking about the preservation of biodiversity more broadly.
St. Columban said “If you wish to know the Creator, understand creation.”
Flourish is one way in which the Columbans here in Britain are ‘walking the talk’ of the Columbans’ international commitment to make ‘biodiversity protection and restoration’ one of our 2 mission priorities. Flourish is made up of rewilding the grounds and facilitating opportunities for young people to explore them, through eco retreats. A team have been creating and formatting resources and then training teachers to facilitate the days, expanding the reach of the eco retreats. 8 local primary schools have partnered with us, and teachers from each of these schools came to the Flourish launch day on Tuesday 1st April 2025. The day was spent exploring the resources, asking questions, pond dipping and sharing ideas. It was wonderful to see the teachers’ excitement and commitment, and witness ‘Flourish’ starting to come to life!
The Columbans are committed to hearing the “cry of the earth and the cry of the poor” (Laudato Si, 49). As a part of this, the Columban’s are committed to care for creation through advocacy, education and striving to be in right relationship with the earth. Flourish is rooted in all of these key objectives. It aims to encourage students to fall in love with creation, learn about nature and recognise the importance of preserving biodiversity.
There are a variety of resources, including outdoor, reflective and solidarity activities. Some of these resources aim to educate students about the loss of biodiversity, helping them to reflect on the cost of human consumption and what that means for them. The ‘State of Nature’ report reveals the shocking reality of biodiversity loss in the UK. It found that 16% (almost 1,500 species) are now threatened with extinction here. Furthermore, since 1970, more than half of our flowering plants, mosses and their relatives, have been lost from areas where they used to thrive. This shocking reality motivates us to encourage the next generation to understand the importance of caring for creation.
Here at the Columban House in Solihull, the re-wilding of the grounds is well under way. Over the last two years, over 5000 trees have been planted, in collaboration with the local council, ecologists and a number of community groups and schools. This has been a great effort by everyone involved, and a practical step towards restoring nature. In addition, a local school recently came and planted a hedgerow as well as various wildflowers meadows with the guidance and assistance of Warwickshire Wildlife Trust. As Flourish continues, our objective is to continue to restore nature around the site, to protect the animals already living here and create an environment for nature to thrive.
Over the next term, each school will bring students to the grounds, to use our resources and explore the link between faith and nature. From bee trails to nature collages, to prayers and solidarity activities; these days will allow ‘care for creation’ to come alive. Abi Yendole is the Columban Faith in Action Volunteer and has been instrumental in organising the launch of Flourish. She explains “We are so excited about all that the students will learn here at the Columban House, and what they will take back to their school communities too. With a whole cupboard full of resources, art supplies and trowels at the ready, we look forward to welcoming many students over the next few months – so that they may Flourish into people who know creation deeper, see the Creator through this and go out and share that love with their schools communities and beyond. We can’t wait!”
