Curious & Creative Gardening Tour: Wildlife-Friendly Museum Gardens
2025-09-30 14:00 - 15:00, 2025-10-09 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-10-15 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-10-21 12:00 - 13:00 UTC | Yorkshire Museum Gardens, Museum St, York, YO1 7FR, United Kingdom
Learn about the initiatives and interventions York Museums Trust’s Gardens Team have made to make their busy public garden more wildlife friendly. Take a tour around over 10 acres of grounds, discovering inspiration for your own garden or workplace green spaces.
You’ll learn about climate change and biodiversity, discover the importance of insects for the food chain and how to manage your green space throughout the seasons to create wildlife habitat, and adopt a new perspective with some native weeds.

Suited to people aged 12+ with an interest in making green spaces more wildlife friendly. Under 16’s must be accompanied by and adult.
Meet on the hard standing in front of the entrance to the Yorkshire Museum. The tour will take an accessible route around the Museum Gardens.
York Museums Trust opens York Museum Gardens free of charge for all to enjoy. As a registered charity, York Museum Trust encourage visitors to consider donating to enable the Trust to continue maintaining and preserving their gardens and buildings for generations to come.
Booking required and can be done here.
Please note: This event is weather dependant. If adverse weather conditions cause this event to be cancelled, ticket holders will be notified.

Game night 1: Daybreak - Can you Save the Planet?
2025-10-04 15:00 - 18:00 | Sustainability Clinic, Market Square, University of York, York, YO10 5DD
Join us for a collaborative board game where the stakes couldn’t be higher – our planet’s future.
In Daybreak (https://www.daybreakgame.org/how-to-play), you’ll team up to tackle the global challenge of climate change by building resilient societies and introducing green technology across sectors and regions. Can your strategies avert crises and lead us toward a sustainable future? A fun, challenging, and timely experience.
This activity is suitable for anyone aged 16 years+.
Booking is required and can be done here.

Game night 2: Design Your York - Planning with Urban Labor-a-tree
2025-10-14 17:30 - 20:00 | Sustainability Clinic, Market Square, University of York, York, YO10 5DD
In this fast-paced, interactive game night, you’ll compete to build the ultimate green city using Urban Labor-a-tree, a strategy board game inspired by real community voices. Choose where to plant, who to help, and how to balance climate, nature, and people. No planning skills needed.
Get ready to put your game on and harness the power of creativity, teamwork, and a bit of strategy. Ideal for gamers, changemakers, and anyone who loves a good challenge.
Suitable for ages 16+.
Booking is required and can be done here.

Nature in the City - Games to Grow Greener and Wilder Urban Spaces
2025-10-22 15:00 - 18:00 | Sustainability Clinic, Market Square, University of York, York, YO10 5DD
Discover two innovative board games exploring nature’s place in urban life. Come experiment, discuss, and reflect on how small choices shape our shared environments:
Set in the city of Bangalore, India, Birds in the City helps you connect with nature and understand the links between urbanisation and bird diversity.
Set in the city of York, UK, Urban Labor-a-tree challenges you to grow thriving treescapes that meet diverse community needs.
Can your team design the greenest, wildest neighbourhood? Outplan the rest and reshape your city together.
Suitable for anyone aged 14 years+.
Booking is required for this event and can be done here.

'How We Made It Through'
2025-10-28 18:30 - 20:30 | Friargate Quaker Meeting House, Friargate Quaker Meeting House, Friargate, York, YO1 9RL, United Kingdom
A celebration of our community thrutopia creative writing project. ‘How We Made It Through’ invited people to create stories from the future where we’ve made it through – hence ‘thrutopia’. Over thirty individual entries were received, in media ranging from prose to poetry, & from collage to needle felting.
Learn about the project design and how it can be easily replicated; listen to readings from the anthology; an option to buy your own copy; & reflect on what thrutopia can look like in your own locality.
No minimum age requirement.
Copies of the book will be available for a donation.

The Ant that Ate the Internet – and other stories from a green and hopeful future.
2025-11-02 10:30 - 12:30, 2025-11-02 13:30 - 15:30 | Marriott Room, York Explore Library, Marriott Room, York Explore Library, Library Square, Museum Street, York, YO1 7DS, United Kingdom
Come join Minnie and Alfred, environmental time-travelling optimists from 100 hundred years in the future where humans, huge insects and nature thrive.
Hear how Tansy Beetles became bigger than the Millennium Bridge, what it is the Slug of Poetic Justice whispers and why the Emotional Support Mosquito has a kind and considerate hum. Share your stories, explore sensory storytelling boxes and assert your hopes for a bright green future in words and doodles too.
Suitable for all ages.
To book tickets, please visit: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/exploreyorklibrariesandarchives/1848649
To facilitate access if required, please contact hiya@stephenleehodgkins.net

York rivers trail: The rivers and us
2026-10-04 09:00 - 2026-10-29 18:00 | City Screen Picture House, 13-17 Coney St, York, YO1 9QL
York rivers trail: The rivers and us is an exhibition exploring the relationship between people, rivers, nature and place in York.
Through photography, stories and creative responses inspired by York’s rivers, visitors will discover perspectives on nature, heritage, wellbeing and climate resilience. Part of the wider York rivers trail programme, the exhibition invites reflection on the importance of rivers to communities, nature and York’s future.
No tickets needed – please visit during CityScreen opening times.
Find out more about the York Rivers Trail here: https://www.york.gov.uk/YorkRiversTrail

Cli-mic Night
2026-10-13 19:00 - 21:00 | Spark York, 17-21 Piccadilly, York, YO1 9PB
Join us for a night of climate and environment related poetry, music, and spoken word. Come along as a performer, or simply sit back and enjoy the show!
No booking required, just drop in!

Love Your Rivers Movement Session
2026-10-18 13:00 - 15:00 | Spark York, 17-21 Piccadilly, York, YO1 9PB
Led by Maddy Winter: a joyful and passional no-experience-needed movement session celebrating the Ouse and Foss with collaborative exercises inspired by their biology, hydrology and folklore.
Age restrictions: 12+ and minors must be accompanied by an adult.
This event requires booking which can be done through this link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/love-your-river-movement-session-tickets-1997150922170?aff=oddtdtcreator

Part of the Love Your River Day of Action organised by Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. All Love Your River events are free but donations will be welcome to help cover event costs and support the development of the Charter for Yorkshire’s Rivers.

Love Your River Bardic Session
2026-10-18 18:00 - 20:30 | Spark York, 17-21 Piccadilly, York, YO1 9PB
Join us for a captivating evening of words, music and poetry celebrating the beauty, power and importance of our rivers. Led by writer and campaigner Amy-Jane Beer and poet Daniel Grimston, the evening will feature a spellbinding performance from cellist, singer and poet Sarah Smout.
Blending live-looped cello soundscapes, ethereal vocals and evocative poetry, Sarah creates immersive performances that invite us to pause, listen and reconnect with the natural world. Together, the evening will explore our deep connection to rivers and nature and what they mean to us in a time of climate and ecological crisis.
Age restrictions: 12+ – minors must be accompanied by an adult. A cash bar is available.
This event requires booking, which can be done through this link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/love-your-river-bardic-session-tickets-1997153535988?aff=oddtdtcreator
Part of the Love Your River Day of Action organised by Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. All Love Your River events are free but donations will be welcome to help cover event costs and support the development of the Charter for Yorkshire’s Rivers.

The rivers and us: stories in motion
2026-10-27 10:00 - 12:00 | Rowntree Park, Terry Avenue, York, YO23 1JQ
Join us for a creative family workshop inspired by York’s rivers, wildlife and changing environment.
Through storytelling, imagination and performance activities, families will explore how rivers support nature, shape communities and contribute to a healthy future. Inspired by themes from the York rivers trail, participants will create characters, stories and short performances exploring wildlife, water, flooding and life along the river.
Book here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/cityofyorkcouncil1/2364644
Booking information:

Suitable for families with children aged 5+. No previous drama or performance experience is required.
This workshop is designed for families to participate together. Capacity is limited to 20 people in total, including both children and accompanying adults. Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Activities are designed to encourage family groups to create, explore and take part together.
Set within Rowntree Park, the amphitheatre is near the southern tennis courts and recreation field (Millennium Bridge side).

Fairy tales and fairy trails
2026-10-27 10:00 - 13:00 | Foss Fairy Trail, A1036, Heworth,, York, YO31 8RP
York Steiner School is partnering with York’s Foss Fairy Trail (with support from York St John’s University) to bring you a morning of magic, music and wonder on the Foss Fairy Trail. Fairy tales will be brought to life with puppets, you can enjoy fairy making with natural materials and live music from fiddlers to flutists will guide you along the trail. This will be a wonderful way to spend time out in nature and come to appreciate this beautiful trail in the centre of York.
Booking is not required for this event, just turn up!
The exact location of this event can be found using the following What3Words: dose.shapes.became (find out more about what3words)
This event is free to attend with an option to make a small donation for the purpose of supporting the Foss Fairy Trail.

The rivers and us: future voices
2026-10-27 14:00 - 16:00 | Rowntree Park, Terry Avenue, York, YO23 1JQ
What kind of future do we want for York’s rivers?
Drawing inspiration from the York rivers trail, this creative workshop invites young people to explore rivers, climate resilience, nature and community through storytelling, discussion and performance. Participants will develop creative responses, share their perspectives and consider how individual and collective action can help shape a more sustainable and resilient future for York’s rivers, communities and natural environment.
Book your place here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/cityofyorkcouncil1/2364683
Booking information:

Suitable for young people aged 13+. No previous drama or performance experience is required.
Capacity is limited to 10 participants to allow time for discussion, creative development and performance.
The workshop is designed for young people aged 13+ to participate independently, although parents and carers are expected to remain on site.
Set within Rowntree Park, the amphitheatre is near the southern tennis courts and recreation field (Millennium Bridge side).

The rivers and us: future frames
2026-10-28 14:00 - 16:00 | Homestead Park Pavillion, The Homestead, 40 Water End, York, YO30 6WP, United Kingdom
How might animation help us tell the story of York’s rivers and the challenges they face? Inspired by the York rivers trail, this creative workshop invites young people to explore climate resilience, biodiversity, water and community through animation. Participants will create their own animated responses to environmental challenges and opportunities facing future generations while learning accessible animation techniques and sharing their ideas for York’s future.
Book your place here: https://buytickets.at/cityofyorkcouncil1/2364771
Booking information:

Suitable for young people aged 13+.
Capacity is limited to 20 participants. Young people under 16 must be accompanied by a responsible adult, although the workshop activities are primarily intended for young people.
This workshop requires use of a simple animation app. Participants should bring a smartphone or tablet and will be asked to download an animation app which will then be used throughout the session. This will also allow participants to continue creating animations after the session.

York City Nature Exhibition
2026-10-28 17:30 - 19:00 | Norman Rea Gallery, Derwent College, University of York, York, YO10 5DD
Join us to celebrate the incredible wildlife seen in and around York at the Launch of a weeklong visual exhibition at the Norman Rea Gallery on the University of York campus.
The exhibition includes photographs of wild animals and plants people took during the York City Nature Challenge, paintings and drawings showcasing the art of nature journaling, and brings to light nature-related insights from the Borthwick Archives! There will be sensory journals, stickers and nature-themed bookmarks too!
Please book in advance: https://forms.gle/KxBhDMoS3mfbMrKf8
Suitable for ages 5+.
The Norman Rea Gallery is on the first floor of Derwent College, on the Heslington Campus of the University of York.

Children & families half-term fun environment festival activities!
2026-10-30 13:30 - 16:30 | The Gateway Centre, Front Street, York, YO24 3BZ, United Kingdom
Join us at The Gateway Centre for some family-friend half-term environmental activities!
This afternoon features a number of stall holders in central Acomb running environmental-themed activities – Nature crafts, apple activities, planting edibles, inventing a food system – possibly with food-waste snacks, and a number of other organisations who will be confirmed closer to the time.
Book online and join us in person – all welcome! Any donations will go towards the cost of the venue hire.
