Local Quakers Visit The Hive Eco Centre

Members of the meeting enjoyed a visit to the Hive Eco Centre which has a vision “to bring families together in a safe space; to deepen their connection with nature and each other; to improve wellbeing and the environment”.

We started with a lively and inspiring talk by our Friend, Julia, who volunteers at the Centre working with children to educate them about the environment in a wonderfully peaceful setting. This was followed by a Q&A session with Steph Holland, founder and a director of the Community Interest Company (CIC) which runs the Hive Eco Centre. Steph talked the various groups which had already benefited from the Eco Centre and about her ambitious plans to further develop the site and the wider work of the CIC.

Our group then the walked round the site which includes a pond, wildflower meadow, woods, vegetable garden and permaculture tunnel. We finished with a very moving open air meeting for worship around a campfire in the woods (pictured above). For some Friends this was their first in person meeting since the start of the pandemic. We are very grateful to both Julia and Steph for arranging the visit and for providing delicious homemade cake!