In the Diocese of Norwich, in the UK, every confirmation candidate receives a hazel tree sapling to plant. The Bishop of Norwich Graham Usher, who is also the Church of England’s lead bishop on the environment, explains why.

Bishop Graham says, “This is as a symbol that being a disciple of Jesus means that our faith grows over time and part of living Jesus’ life is to be stewards of creation.

“Also, because Mother Julian of Norwich, the fourteenth century mystic, held a hazel nut in the palm of her hand and three truths were revealed to her about all that God has made: ‘The first is that God made it; The second is that God loves it; The third is that God looks after it’, the bishops speak about this to the confirmation candidates.”

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