York Environment Festival

Weedy Walk
2025-10-12 14:00 - 15:30 UTC | Victoria Bar off Nunnery Lane, Victoria Bar, Victor St, York, YO1 6HQ
A popular walk around Bishophill, looking at ‘weeds’ growing in untended and unintended places.
What are weeds? Unwelcome outsiders or resilient and adaptable organisms? Should we be concerned about the spraying of herbicides on our streets? What is their value to humans and insects?
We’ll have a slow short walk around Bishophill and get to know some of the plants and enjoy their interesting common names: fairy foxgloves anyone?
Booking is required for this event. To book please email laurapotts@phonecoop.coop
Suitable for ages 12+.
Any donations made at this event will be given to Pesticides Action Network UK.
For accessibility purposes, please consider that streets/pavements/alleys travelled during the walk may be uneven. Support and help can be offered if needed.

Getting your eco campaign in the news
2025-10-13 13:00 - 14:30
Tips and tricks from a multi award winning environmental journalist to help you get the attention your cause deserves. This workshop is for organisers of eco groups looking for publicity and will cover how to approach the media to get your message out.
Booking is required and can be done here.
No minimum age restriction.

Welfare Not Warfare for Climate Justice and Palestine
2025-10-13 19:00 - 22:00 | The Crescent, The Crescent, York, YO24 1AW, United Kingdom
Join us at the York Environmental Festival for Welfare Not Warfare for Climate Justice and Palestine. War and militarism drive climate breakdown—destroying ecosystems, polluting air and water, and diverting resources from a just green transition. Militaries are among the world’s biggest polluters, yet governments expand defence spending while cutting climate action. True environmentalism means resisting militarism and uniting for peace, justice, and a sustainable future.
This event is for ages 12+.
Booking required and can be done here.

Seed Harvesting
2025-10-14 13:00 - 15:30, 2025-10-22 13:00 - 15:30 | Rowntree Park, Terry Avenue, York, YO23 1JQ
Join us for a series of fun, hands-on sessions exploring Rowntree Park’s wildflowers and pollinator plants. Learn how to collect, clean, and pack seeds while discovering their vital role in supporting bees, butterflies, and biodiversity. No experience needed — just bring enthusiasm and enjoy connecting with nature and community!
Ideally, the sessions will follow on from each other but can be done individually. Meet underneath the Rowntree Park Reading Café.
Donations accepted towards Friends of Rowntree Park – the charity that helps maintain and improve Rowntree Park.
Event suitable for ages 18+. 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, Sustainability Clinic, Market Square, University of York, York, YO105DD
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.

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

Curious & Creative Gardening Tour: Wildlife-Friendly Museum Gardens
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.

Biodiversity Collage
2025-10-15 15:00 - 18:00 | Patch York, Terry Avenue, The Bonding Warehouse, Terry Avenue, York, YO16FA, United Kingdom
Uncover the intricacies of our impact on biodiversity through the interactive lens of a game that transforms ecological understanding into an engaging experience.
Age restrictions: 16+
Please book in advance through this link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/get-to-grips-with-the-ecological-crisis-during-york-environment-festival-tickets-1544004702629

Creating an Urban Green Corridor - Talk
2025-10-16 18:00 - 20:00 | St Nicks Environment Centre and Nature Reserve, Rawdon Ave, York, YO10 3FW
An illustrated talk on the Solar System Greenway – from its origins as a main line railway to its current status as a Site of Interest for Nature Conservation stretching from the city centre into the countryside.

The following Saturday morning, the talk will be followed up with a guided walk and an optional cycle ride. See here for more details.
Booking is required: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/creating-an-urban-green-corridor-tickets-1545670053739?aff=oddtdtcreator
Donations to the work of St Nicks or York Greenways will be welcomed.

The Humber Hovercraft - a more sustainable way for Yorkshire people to travel?
2025-10-16 19:00 - 20:00 | The House of Trembling Madness, 48 Stonegate, York, YO1 8AS, United Kingdom
This creative workshop is a follow-up to a York Festival of Ideas keynote.
It will tell the secret story of the HUMBER HOVERCRAFT and make a case for more sustainable transport here in the region in the future.
The Humber Hovercraft ran between Grimsby and Hull for a short period at the end of the 1960s. This method of crossing the river captured imaginations back in 1969 and inspired a new creative project in the north of England that took place over the past 12 months.
No booking required.

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.

York Open Eco Homes
2025-10-18 10:00 - 16:00
Visit one or more local homes that don’t cost the Earth to run. Learn from the hosts’ experiences and find inspiration for your own home.
You will see a great variety of energy saving measures, from draught-proofing and insulation to heat pumps and solar panels. More than 10 homes and an all electric caravan will be opening their doors to visitors over 3 days.
Book a free tour for one or all! Homes and addresses will be supplied after booking.
Children must be accompanied. Book via the link below or contact York Community Energy:
https://buytickets.at/yce

Creating an Urban Green Corridor - Walk and Cycle
2025-10-18 11:00 - 12:00 | St Nicks Environment Centre and Nature Reserve, Rawdon Ave, York, YO10 3FW
A guided walk and an optional cycle ride following a talk on the Solar System Greenway on 16/10/2025 (see details about the talk here).
The walk will end at the Brunswick Organic Nursery in Bishopthorpe and those with cycles can continue the length of the Greenway to Riccall. Meeting arrangements for the walk/ride will be announced at the talk.
Booking is required: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/creating-an-urban-green-corridor-tickets-1545670053739?aff=oddtdtcreator
Under 16s should be accompanied by a responsible adult. Children under 7 are likely to need a buggy.
Donations to the work of St Nicks or York Greenways will be welcomed.

Open Garden at the Nose
2025-10-19 14:00 - 16:00 | St Clement’s Church, 15A Scarcroft Rd, York, YO23 1NE
This community garden is for everyone is interested in growing (and eating) beautiful edible plants, some well-known varieties, and other more unusual ones.
Visitors will have the opportunity to find out how community gardening works and how it fits with Planet South Bank’s other projects. Those with gardens of their own can exchange gardening tips, find out about unusual plant varieties or perhaps be encouraged to start growing some food for themselves. Some outdoor activities and stalls for children.

Axe Drax: Documentary Screening
2025-10-20 18:30 - 19:45 | Spark York, 17-21 Piccadilly, York, YO1 9PB
Join Axe Drax for a screening of documentary on York’s local big polluter: Drax Power Station. Learn about the resistance and join the fight!
Suitable for ages 10+
Donations are welcome and will be put towards the ongoing efforts of the Axe Drax organisation.

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

York! Get to grips with the Planetary Boundaries @ Patch
2025-10-22 15:00 - 18:00 | Patch York, Terry Avenue, The Bonding Warehouse, Terry Avenue, York, YO16FA, United Kingdom
Perhaps you’ve got your head around the climate crisis? Or the ecological crisis? It’s already a head scratcher.
The Stockholm Resilience Centre have identified 7 other earth systems that we need to be aware of. They call these “planetary boundaries.” They highlight the rising risks from human pressure on nine critical global processes that regulate the stability and resilience of the Earth.
Explore them in this systemic and collaborative 3-hour workshop.
Suitable for ages 15+.
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, Sustainability Clinic, Market Square, University of York, York, YO105DD
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.

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

Convening the convenors: connecting climate & green networks across York
2025-10-23 18:00 - 20:00 | Patch York, Terry Avenue, The Bonding Warehouse, Terry Avenue, York, YO16FA, United Kingdom
Do you work on a project that connects groups doing climate & environment work in York? You might be sharing resources, fostering collaboration or convening networks.

Three networks – York Climate Commission, York Environment Forum & York CliConnect – invite the organisers, business owners & initiatives that bring people together on climate & environment.

There is great stuff going on; some overlap, plenty we could cross-pollinate, some duplication we could avoid & maybe some gaps we could address.
No minimum age restriction. Booking is required: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1559464854359?aff=oddtdtcreator

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

Celebrate Apples
2025-10-25 13:00 - 16:00 | The Dormouse, Clifton Park Avenue, York, YO20 5PA
In an orchard with many trees we are picking apples and gathering windfalls. Some of these will be turned into juice with our onsite equipment.
The Edible York team will guide participants in safe and happy picking and juicing. All kit provided, bring your own bag and/or bottle, and wear suitable outdoor clothing.
Children need to be with an adult. Any donations will contribute to future fruit picking eg buying more tools and kit.

'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.

Cli-mic Night
2025-10-28 19:00 - 21:00 | Spark York, 17-21 Piccadilly, York, YO1 9PB
In the fight for a better future, community and storytelling are just as important as action. So we invite the people of York to come together, share stories and imagine alternatives.
Join Extinction Rebellion York for a relaxed evening of climate-themed poetry, music, comedy and more. Share your creative work with a friendly crowd or just come along to listen and connect.
If you would like to perform, please fill out this short form: bit.ly/4esBx1c. If you are just attending, then booking is not required.
Suitable for ages 12+

Climate Change, Extreme Heat, and Public Health
2025-10-29 09:30 - 12:00 | Priory Street Community Centre, 15 Priory Street, York, YO1 6ET
York Climate Commission’s Health working group are hosting this session to help those working with at-risk groups or vulnerable communities to explore climate risk and adaptation planning for extreme heat.
Attendees will hear expert advice on how to plan for extreme heat and have the chance to be involved in an interactive workshop. Groups who might find this session helpful include (but are not limited to): the third sector, charities, private businesses, public health organisations.
No minimum age restriction.
Booking Required. To book email carbon.reduction@york.gov.uk

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.
