CHURCHES will be urged to move towards a sustainable, low carbon future in a speech from the Bishop of Salisbury at the Dorset County Show.

The Rt Rev Nicholas Holtam will speak at the show, near Dorchester, on Sunday, September 4.

His address will focus on the need for communities to club together in order to push the government towards delivering the climate change agreement signed by 175 world leaders at the United Nations this year.

The Bishop’s speech will form part of the traditional harvest service at the sheep shearers’ stadium from 11am.

Rt Rev Holtam, who is the Church of England’s lead bishop for the environment, said: “It will be an opportunity for us to celebrate, think and pray about the life and work of our very beautiful but nevertheless fragile and precious home.

“What has to happen globally also has to happen locally.”

The Bishop will discuss two environmentally-focused schemes taking place in churches both nationally and locally - the ‘Eco Church’ initiative and the ‘Living Churchyards’ scheme.

‘Eco Church’, led by Christian charity Arocha, encourages churches to care for the natural world.

‘Living Churchyards’, managed locally by Dorset Wildlife Trust, aims to provide sanctuaries in church grounds for species whose habitats elsewhere are being cut back.

Rt Rev Holtam said: “This is about the way we live – using renewable energy and being efficient so that we don’t waste precious resources.”

The Diocese of Salisbury will once again have a marquee as part of the show, representing the county’s churches.

Jean Coates, rural officer for the Diocese of Salisbury, said: “I hope this year’s marquee will encourages churches across the county to get more involved with ‘Eco Church’ and help us all to work to be better guardians of planet Earth.”

Visit dorsetcountyshow.co.uk for more information.