York Rivers Trail: A creative walk shaping the stories of water, climate and community
2025-09-28 12:00 - 13:00 UTC | North Street Gardens, North Street Gardens, North Street, York, YO1 6JD, United Kingdom
Join us for the soft launch of the York Rivers Trail – a new way to experience the rivers that shape our city.
Blending art, science and local voices, this self-guided trail explores how York is responding to the climate crisis through creativity, nature-based solutions, and community action.
Expect an hour of connection, conversation and new perspectives on York’s rivers. There will be one walk at 10:00 and one walk at 12:00.
Suitable for all ages. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Booking is required for this event and can be done here.

A workshop to explore the environmental impacts of war
2025-09-28 12:00 - 13:00 | Friargate Quaker Meeting House, Friargate Quaker Meeting House, Friargate, York, YO1 9RL, United Kingdom
This workshop opens up a chance to explore and learn about the many environmental impacts of warfare and preparation for war. There will be a short presentation as well as practical activities and an opportunity for small group discussion.
We will face some challenging themes but in a supportive way which will be accessible to people of all ages.
Through a lens of “climate justice” we will look at how seemingly different problems AND the solutions are actually connected.
No minimum age restriction.

Planet South Bank foraging walk led by local forager Carl Wain
2025-09-28 14:00 - 15:30 | Rowntree Park, Terry Avenue, York, YO23 1JQ
A chance to learn about the edible plants available in York’s hedgerows and public spaces. Ideal for families, local residents and nature lovers.
Suitable for all ages.
Booking is required and can be done here. Booking is essential as places are limited to 25 people so that everyone has the opportunity to hear Carl and join in with the discussions.
This event is free and donations are welcomed when you book. Donations will shared between the Friends of Rowntree Park and Planet South Bank.
The event will start by the dovecot, near to the Rowntree Park Reading Café.

Seed Harvesting
2025-09-29 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.

The Life Sized City - Screening and Discussion
2025-09-29 19:00 - 21:00 | https://yorkenvironmentfestival.org.uk/event/the-life-sized-city-screening/
The Life Sized City is a documentary series shaped and presented by charismatic Danish urbanist Mikael Colville-Andersen, which examines one city a time what it is that makes big places liveable; what makes them life sized? The first in a monthly series, we’ll meet using Zoom and will screen the episode looking at Barcelona, for an hour’s watching and comment, and then an hour’s discussion about what we’ve seen and how we might use it to shape the future York into a place which works for us.
Booking is required for this event: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1670670894619?aff=oddtdtcreator
No minimum age requirement.

Curious & Creative Gardening Tour: Wildlife-Friendly Museum Gardens
2025-09-30 14:00 - 15:00, 2025-10-09 11:00 - 12:00 | 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.

People, Planet, Pint: York Environment Festival Edition
2025-09-30 18:00 - 21:00 | Brew York, Unit 6, Enterprise Complex, Walmgate, York, YO1 9TT, United Kingdom
No pitches, PowerPoints or panels. Just People, Planet, Pint/s.
Your local meetup is a great place to start your journey or continue learning, and meet diverse people to chat about life and how we can sustain it. Every job is a climate job, so come along and learn about how you can take action, as well as what is going on locally.
No age restrictions, but event is located in a pub and includes alcohol.
Booking is required and can be done here.

Is environmentally sustainable AI possible? Panel Discussion
2025-09-30 19:00 - 20:00 | https://yorkenvironmentfestival.org.uk/event/sustainable-ai-panel-discussion/
AI is going to change the world. But can it protect the planet?
The climate crisis feels more urgent than ever. But with companies racing to develop faster, better, and more powerful AI across the globe, the demand on our planet’s resources is only getting stronger. Is environmentally sustainable AI possible?
We’re bringing together York researchers, alumni and friends across the sector to answer this very question.
No minimum age restriction.

Create a Wildlife Haven in your Garden
2025-10-01 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-10-01 11:30 - 12:30 | Stillingfleet Lodge Gardens, Stewart Ln, Stillingfleet, York, Yorkshire, YO19 6HP, United Kingdom
Recently described as “the Mary Berry of gardening,” Vanessa Cook has been managing her garden for wildlife for 40 years. Join her on a guided walk to see the many ingredients that makes her garden a wildlife haven.
Learn how a few small actions in your garden or community space can make it a beacon of hope for local wildlife.
Each walk will be 60 minutes long, from 10:00 – 11:00 and from 11:30 to 12:30. There will be time to enjoy our tea room, shop and plant nursery after you have been on the walk, but please be aware that the garden will close at 13:00.
Suitable for all ages. Blue badge parking is available and there are plenty of benches around the garden.
Meet at the entrance hut. Places are limited, so pre-booking is essential. This can be done here.

Leading Environmental Education: Case Studies & Personalized Curriculum Support
2025-10-01 11:00 - 11:40 | https://yorkenvironmentfestival.org.uk/event/environmental-education-case-studies-curriculum-support/
This event introduces environmental education at the upper secondary level, showcasing award-winning programs recognized by UNESCO as case studies. It also offers free advisory support for university students and educators interested in developing their own environmental curricula. Ideal for educators passionate about sustainability, the event provides first-hand insights into leading practices and the chance to receive personalized guidance in curriculum design.
Suitable for ages 16+.
This event will be online only. Please use the following details to join:

https://us04web.zoom.us/j/77006444948?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 770 0644 4948
Password: [REDACTED]

Climate Fresk @ UoY
2025-10-01 14:00 - 17:00 | Sustainability Clinic, Market Square, University of York, Sustainability Clinic, Market Square, University of York, York, YO105DD
Interested in Joining a climate science workshop? Climate Fresk is a 3 hour interactive workshop based on the IPCC reports – the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The collaborative Climate Fresk workshop will teach you the fundamental science behind climate change and empower you to take action through small group discussion, reflecting on emotions and collaborative action planning. Suitable for anyone wanting to develop their understanding of this topic.
Booking required at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdP8G-tVOQj8O3jL6iQudvtCmCbdlhUMOsIr0mrK5uYmHf4mA/viewform
Age restrictions: 16+

Hands on with the gardeners @ York Minster
2025-10-02 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-10-09 10:00 - 12:00 | York Minster, Minster Yard, Deangate, York, YO1 7HH, United Kingdom
Meet the York Minster Gardening Team to hear about how they are making a home for nature in the centre of York and join in with a seasonal gardening task such as planting, preparing wildflower areas, making compost, surveying the bird nest boxes and tidying the gardens. A suitable task for the session will be chosen nearer the time.
Under 18s must be accompanied by an adult.
Booking is required for this event. To do so, please send an email to works@yorkminster.org
Event will start by the Sensory Garden near to the Old Palace Library (YO1 7JQ).
Blue Badge parking is available on Deangate.

Plant Propagation Workshop
2025-10-02 13:00 - 15:00 | Homestead Park Pavillion, The Homestead, 40 Water End, York, YO30 6WP, United Kingdom
Join the garden team at Homestead Park for a workshop on dividing perennials.
We will begin with a walk through the park with the park team. We will practise lifting from plants, then return to our glasshouses to divide and propagate them, covering the principles of division and plant aftercare.
You will have a plant to take home – pots and compost will be provided. If you prefer to garden with gloves, please bring a pair with you.
Open to everybody – especially suited to beginners. Booking is required and can be done here.
All under 18s should be accompanied by a guardian.
Meet outside the Homestead Park Pavilion – What Three Words: https://w3w.co/haven.splash.unique

Travel to school on the 'BikeBus'!
2025-10-02 17:00 - 18:00 | https://yorkenvironmentfestival.org.uk/event/travel-to-school-on-the-bikebus/
A BikeBus is a group of people who cycle together on a set route on a set timetable. Many school communities are setting up BikeBuses, making the school run safer, healthy and more fun.
A one hour online presentation plus Q&A with:

Hamish Belding; FRideDays Bike Bus Project Coordinator
Vicky Walter; May Park Bike Bus, Bristol
Loz Hennessy; Green Schools Project, Bristol
Hazel Peacock; Oatlands Bike Bus, Harrogate

Could your school community start York’s first BikeBus?
Suitable for all ages, but aimed towards adults/parents with children.
This event is online. Booking is required and can be done here. The link for the Zoom sign-in for the event will be emailed out on October 1st.

Friends of the Earth present an Audience with our Representatives - Local, Regional and National
2025-10-03 19:00 - 21:00 | Central Methodist Church, Central Methodist Church St. Saviourgate, York, YO1 8NQ, United Kingdom
An invitation to meet York politicians and debate the city’s place in the local, regional and national environment.
Rachael Maskell: MP York Central
Cllr. Kilbane: York & North Yorks. Deputy Mayor, Combined Authority Member
Cllr. Douglas: Leader of City Council, Combined Authority member, Vice Chair of Yorks. & Humber Climate Commission
Cllr. Kent: City Council Exec. for Environment
Questions can be submitted in advance but contributions will also be taken from the floor on the night.
If you are planning to attend, you should register here.
This form will also give you the opportunity to submit a question for the panel.
Please note the venue is fully accessible. Those under 16 should be accompanied by a responsible adult.
Donations towards Friends of the Earth accepted.

Parent and Toddler Group
2025-10-04 10:00 - 12:00 | York Steiner School, York Steiner School, Fulford Cross, Fulford, York, YO10 4BP, United Kingdom
Welcome to all children aged up to four years with their parents or grandparents to our magical Parent and Child group.
During the session there will be plenty of time for free play in our lovely room full of interesting places to explore. We’ll share seasonal crafts, songs and a story to help deepen the connection of both adults and children with the natural world.
We’ll sit down together to share a fruit-based meal – where the children may join in with helping us to prepare and serve the food.
Suitable for children up to age 4 (plus accompanying adult).
Booking is required and can be done here.

Gardening for Wildlife in Autumn
2025-10-04 10:30 - 12:15 | Room 1, Clifton Explore Centre, Rawcliffe Drive, York, YO30 6NS, Clifton Explore Centre, Rawcliffe Drive, York, YO30 6NS, United Kingdom
Come along to discover how you can really make a difference for wildlife in your garden over autumn and winter by creating a mosaic of habitats and establishing food sources, shelter and water features to increase biodiversity on your doorstep. We’ll explore a range of practical steps you can take in even the smallest of spaces and you’ll create some wildflower seed balls to take home and sow in your outdoor space.
All ages welcome. Booking required and can be done here.

Game night 1: Daybreak - Can you Save the Planet?
2025-10-04 15:00 - 18:00 | Sustainability Clinic, Market Square, University of York, Sustainability Clinic, Market Square, University of York, York, YO105DD
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.

Street-re-Cycle
2025-10-05 12:00 - 15:00 | 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.

Multi-Sensory Nature Experience
2025-10-09 12:00 - 13:00 | Berrick Saul Building, University of York, Harewood Way, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD
This slow nature walk, covering <1km, is all about how we can use soundscaping, biodiversity citizen science, literature and nature-journaling to learn more about the places around us in creative and innovative ways!
Meet at the main entrance of Berrick Saul building, University of York (Heslington Campus); whatthreewords: https://w3w.co/action.frame.grass (action.frame.grass)
Participants should dress for the weather, wear close-toed shoes and bring a surface to write on e.g. a book and their smartphone to fully explore a small part of Campus West; the rest of the materials will be provided at the event.
Suitable for ages 8+.

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.

Guided morning walk around Homestead Park
2025-10-11 09:00 - 11:00 | The Pavillion Homestead Park, Homestead Park, Clifton, York, YO30 6WP, United Kingdom
NOTE: This walk has been postponed from it’s original date due to adverse weather conditions. It will now take place on the 11th of October at 9am.
Start the day with a guided walk through Homestead Park. We will explore the colourful and diverse flora and fauna of early Autumn, share stories and insights from the park, and enjoy a few moments of calm and quiet among the trees. Participants will be invited to enjoy a cup of park-grown herbal tea together at the end of the walk (optional).
This will be a great event for new or experienced gardeners, nature lovers, and anyone interested in learning more about their local park.
Booking required: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/york-environment-festival-guided-morning-walk-around-homestead-park-tickets-1556864015179?aff=oddtdtcreator
Suitable for ages 12+ (under 18s must be accompanied by a guardian)

Fantastic Fungi - Searching for Mushrooms in a Semi-Urban Landscape
2025-10-11 13:00 - 14:30, 2025-10-12 13:00 - 14:30 | Biology Department, University of York, Biology Department, University of, York, YO10 5DD
This easy nature walk across the University of York campus is perfect for anyone interested in learning more about local fungi species, requiring no prior knowledge! There will be lots of opportunity to stop and look for mushrooms in some key fungi hotspots, and to ask any questions you may have.
For those who came last year, this will be the exact same walk. However, since nature is unpredictable, we will likely spot some new species, and there is always more to learn!
Suitable for all ages.
No booking required.
The walk will begin at the east entrance to the biology department on the University of York campus, Heslington, YO10 (Coordinates: 53.947774, -1.056132; What3Words: tigers.able.sunset)
