York Environment Festival

Street-re-Cycle
2025-10-05 12:00 - 15:00 UTC | South Bank, York, South Bank, York, YO23 1FA
An opportunity for households to do some clearing out and passing on of things to others. There’ll be a trail of households in the South Bank area of York, noon to 3pm on Sunday 5 October. Householders can give things away, swap them or sell them.
Suitable for all ages.
All are welcome to drop in, however booking is required for households who are taking part and can be done by emailing info@planetsouthbank.org.uk. Deadline for booking is 6pm on the 1st of October.
Addresses for the trail will be published on the day of the event. More details can be found on the event’s website.

Get to grips with Climate Science: Climate Fresk workshop
2025-10-07 15:00 - 18:00 | Patch York, Terry Avenue, The Bonding Warehouse, Terry Avenue, York, YO16FA, United Kingdom
Understanding climate science might seem intimidating, but it’s important we get to grips with it. The Climate Fresk turns climate science into a team game, where we work together to connect the causes, mechanisms and effects of the climate crisis, and what we can do about it.
Join an interactive workshop with trained facilitators to look at climate science in more detail, learn together, challenge our assumptions and talk about the future.
Minimum age restriction 12+.

What’s a Sustainable Economy look like for York?
2025-10-08 19:00 - 20:30 | De Grey Court Lecture Theatre, De Grey Court building, York St John University, Lord Mayor’s Walk, York, YO31 7EX, United Kingdom
York needs both a thriving, job-rich economy and considerably lower carbon emissions, but how do we do this? What are the best models to adopt, where can we learn lessons, and are we headed in the right direction? Join us for a lively and interactive panel discussion to hear from businesses, change-makers, government, and academics on their versions of a sustainable future in our city.
Booking is required and can be done so here.
No minimum age restriction.
Venue accessibility information can be found here.

Curious & Creative Gardening Tour: Wildlife-Friendly Museum Gardens
2025-10-09 11:00 - 12:00, 2025-10-15 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-10-21 12:00 - 13:00 | 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.

No Jobs On a Dead Planet - Organising For A Just Transition in Workplaces
2025-10-09 17:30 - 19:00 | Priory Street Community Centre, 15 Priory Street, York, YO1 6ET
A panel style meeting with speakers and time for questions/discussion. There will be action points for people to take away so that they can organise around climate in their workplace even if they have never done this before.
2026 is designated as a year of climate activity across the trade union movement, with the aim to come up with concrete action to tackle the climate emergency – both in the here and now, and as part of the just transition to the green jobs needed for a sustainable future.
Suitable for ages 12+.
Booking is required for this event, and can be done here. This is a hybrid event.

Climate Listening Circle
2025-10-09 19:00 - 20:30 | Patch, The Bonding Warehouse, Patch, The Bonding Warehouse, Terry Avenue, York, YO1 6FA, United Kingdom
This Climate Listening Circle (previously known as a Climate Cafe) is a chance to meet with others and share our feelings about the climate and ecological crisis – a thinking and feeling space and a haven from busyness and activity. Sharing feelings, over a cuppa, in a supportive space can help to build our resilience in our changing and challenging world.
This event has a minimum age of 14.

Exploring Geothermal Energy at the University of York
2025-10-15 - 2025-10-17 | Ron Cooke Hub Atrium, Campus East, University of York, 133 Deramore Lane, York, YO10 5GE, Ron Cooke Hub Atrium, Campus East, University of York, 133 Deramore Lane, York, YO10 5GE
As part of York Environment Festival and World Geothermal Day 2025, the University of York is excited to be hosting a series of public events that dive into the world of geothermal energy. We’ll also be sharing the latest updates on our own geothermal project on the University’s Campus East, including details about our upcoming seismic survey works planned for late October.

Come and join us at one of our events:

Wednesday 15 October (5pm – 7pm)
Exploring Geothermal Energy drop-in: Tang Hall Explore
Join us at Tang Hall Explore to learn about geothermal energy, chat with the University’s geothermal team, and take part in interactive geothermal activities.
https://www.york.ac.uk/about/sustainability/events/2025/geothermal-energy-event-tang-hall/

Thursday 16 October (1pm – 3pm)
Exploring Geothermal Energy drop-in: York Explore Library
Join us at York Explore library to learn about geothermal energy, chat with the University’s geothermal team, and take part in interactive geothermal activities.
https://www.york.ac.uk/about/sustainability/events/2025/geothermal-energy-event-york-explore/

Friday 17 October (2pm – 6pm)
Seismic Survey Open Day
Join us in the Ron Cooke Hub atrium to learn more about the upcoming seismic survey taking place in late October, the next step in the University’s deep geothermal energy project.
https://www.york.ac.uk/about/sustainability/events/2025/seismic-survey-open-day/

Friday 17 October (6.30pm-7.30pm)
Celebrating World Geothermal Day: York’s Geothermal Exploration
Could the heat beneath our feet help power a low-carbon future? Join us for an evening exploring the science, opportunities and impact of deep geothermal energy.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/celebrating-world-geothermal-day-yorks-geothermal-exploration-tickets-1760792079509
Find out more about our Deep Geothermal Energy project: www.york.ac.uk/geothermal

This whole earth is family - From human-centrism to ecocentrism
2025-10-16 19:00 - 21:15 | Jacob’s Well, Trinity Lane, York, YO1 6EL, United Kingdom
Led by Sociologist Dr Peter Gardner, we will explore the deep-rooted human-centrism shaping our diets, economies, laws, climate goals and outlooks. We’ll examine the alternative: ecocentrism—a worldview that sees all life, from octopuses to oysters, forests to rivers, soils to ecosystems – as holding fundamental value. Together, we will think through some of the implications of applying an ecocentric outlook in our everyday lives and across society. A one-pot vegetarian supper will be included.
Donations towards the work of Poesis are welcome.
Booking required. Please book tickets here.

Green Business Forum: Energy
2025-10-21 09:30 - 12:00 | York Theatre Royal, St Leonard's Pl, York, YO1 7HD, United Kingdom
York Green Business Forum’s next event is focusing on helping businesses to tackle their energy bills and cut carbon to cut costs. You’ll hear about how to reduce your energy consumption and increase profitability, hearing first-hand from other local businesses and industry experts.
Participating businesses can access free one-to-one expert advice, participate in workshops and network with like-minded local organisations.
Booking Required: buytickets.at/cityofyorkcouncil3
Blue Badge parking is available on Duncombe Place at the rear of the theatre. Please email carbon.reduction@york.gov.uk for any specific queries about access needs.

York Bus Forum Meeting 21/10/2025
2025-10-21 17:30 - 19:00 | https://yorkenvironmentfestival.org.uk/event/york-bus-forum-meeting-21-10-2025/
Special guest is David Skaith, Mayor for York and North Yorkshire.
Transport emissions form a large part of carbon. Hear the Mayor’s plans for public transport in York with particular emphasis on bus services and how they integrate with his wider transport strategy.
This event is online. Booking is required. To book please contact: rogerfrench1148@outlook.com

Heritage & the Environment @ York Minster
2025-10-23 13:00 - 14:00 | York Minster Works and Technology Hub, 4 Deangate, York, YO1 7JA, United Kingdom
A walking tour of the York Minster precinct taking in the projects established in its Neighbourhood Plan, including its new Centre of Excellence for Heritage Craft Skills and Estates Management, focused on work to protect its heritage estate, craft skills, and the environment, such as renewable energy initiatives and combatting damage caused by increased rainfall. The tour will appeal to those interested in heritage but also with a concern about our rapidly changing environment.
Suitable for ages 18+
Booking is required for this event and can be done by email to works@yorkminster.org
Blue badge parking available on Deangate

The Groves Repair Café
2025-10-25 09:30 - 12:00 | St Thomas’s Church Hall, Lowther Street, York, YO31 7ND, United Kingdom
This is an opportunity to get your broken household items fixed for free – from toasters to teapots, electronics to egg-timers – and to get clothing and fabrics mended. A chance to save money on buying new whilst reducing waste and being part of York’s growing circular economy.
Suitable for all ages, under 16s to be accompanied by an adult.
This event is free but donations are welcome. Any donations made will be used to support the continuation of the Repair Café.
Booking is not required.

Solar Skylines: Building a greener energy future for York
2025-10-25 13:00 - 15:00 | Marriott Room, York Explore Library, Marriott Room, York Explore Library, Library Square, Museum Street, York, YO1 7DS, United Kingdom
Join YCE to design York’s energy future – one building at a time!
Come along to talk about the different ways we can make York’s energy system cleaner and greener, and design your own part of a sustainable future for our city. In this interactive session, we’ll be creating a vision of York’s energy skyline together – building a collage of what the future could look like, and talking about how we can make that vision a reality, from individual energy saving to the community energy transition.
No minimum age requirement. Booking is recommended. Reserve your tickets: https://buytickets.at/yce/1787526

'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.

CANCELLED - Lowfield Green Housing Cooperative | Open Day
2025-11-01 11:00 - 13:00 | Lowfield Green, Restharrow Road, York, YO24 3FT, United Kingdom
UPDATE – THIS EVENT IS CANCELLED
Unfortunately due to unforeseen circumstances, the green housing open day scheduled for November 1st has been cancelled. Watch this space for updates, as the organiser hopes to reorganise in the new year.
The first 14 households have just moved in!
As part of York Environment Festival we invite you to our very first open house.
Come and visit York’s first co-housing project, 10+ years in the making. Whether you’ve been following the long journey so far or have just heard about us, come along.
Get a tour of the site, including our communal outdoor area as well as a tour in one of the homes built to a really high Passivhaus standard. Hear from residents about the early days of living together.
Booking required. Please book here.
Children must be accompanied by adults.
Meet on the green.
