Upcoming Talks and Workshops

York Environment Weeks is a great opportunity to find out more about environmental issues and learn new skills. This year’s festival includes a range of talks, workshops and panel discussions, on everything from climate justice to how to have better conversations about climate change. Read on to find out what’s coming up in the next couple of weeks.

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Tuesday 24th September, 7-8.30m: Divestment – How to stop our pensions funding climate catastrophe

Join York TUC and York City Unison to hear from trade unionists and campaigners active in the movement to divest our pensions away from fossil fuel companies and those that finance them. 

At West Offices and online

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Thursday 26th September, 7-7.45pm: Global Justice York – Towards a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty

This talk gives an introduction to proposals for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty that will stop the expansion of coal, oil and gas production, bring about a fair phase-out of fossil fuel production and ensure a just transition away from fossil fuels.

Online

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Thursday 26th September, 7-9pm: No Climate Justice On Occupied Land

This panel meeting hosted by York Palestine Assembly will discuss the intersection between climate justice and the fight for justice for those on occupied land. It will consider the impact of colonisation, the militarisation of society and the weaponisation of natural resources like water.Friends Meeting House, Friargate

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Tuesday 1st October, 7-8.30pm: Beyond Drax: A Real Green Future for Yorkshire and the Humber

Join the Stop Burning Trees Coalition to learn how we can secure a better future for workers and local communities by transitioning away from energy generated by burning trees at Drax.Spark York, Piccadilly

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Friday 4th October, 7-9pm: Friends of the Earth invite you to meet four leading Councillors for a discussion on York’s environment

Friends of the Earth host an environmental panel and Q&A with four local Councillors: Jenny Kent, Michael Pavlovic, Kate Ravilious and Stephen Fenton. Register to submit your questions in advance.

Main Hall, York CVS, Priory Street

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Sunday 6th October, 1-3pm: #talkingclimate: A toolkit for more effective conversations

Do you find it hard to talk to people in your life about climate change? Join YorkCliConnect for a two-hour workshop to build up a practical toolkit, based on Climate Outreach research, to practise talking about climate change with your friends, family and colleagues.

Micklegate Social

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A request to all of you who participate in events– Please send us a few words of feedback. What was good? What did you learn or try out for the first time? What is different for you because of the event you attended? … and of course what might be done better, or more effectively, another time. It can get lonely here as the Volunteer Organising Team and its always useful to hear how this festival is going from the participants point of view.

Events beyond YEWs24, that we think might be of interest:

Friday 27th September, 9am-4pm: Restoring Nature Conference

Designed to help Town and Parish Councils fulfil their increasing obligations to support nature recovery, this conference is open to anyone with an interest in increasing local biodiversity.

Kirby Misperton Village Hall

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Tuesday 1st October, 6.30-8.30pm: Re-imaging the future – a writing workshop for dreamers and writers

A free event run by Mikyla Limpkin, a local author and community educator, this workshop aims to generate and record visions and ideas for a better world. Open to  non-writers and writers of all ages and abilities.

Friargate Quaker Meeting House, Friargate, York, YO1 9RL

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Saturday 5th October, 10am-4pm: UK Fungi Day

The Yorkshire Arboretum is joining in with British Mycological Society celebrations for UK Fungi Day with a range of interactive learning and activities in the Tree Health Centre.

The Yorkshire Arboretum

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Saturday 5th October, 2-5pm: Comedy vs Climate Change Workshops

Partnering with the Ryevitalise Landscape Partnership scheme, Comedy vs Climate Change is offering climate comedy workshops for participants aged 18-30.

Theatre@41, Monkgate

Announcements and Extra Events

Kidical Mass Bike Ride (Sunday 6th October) looking for marshals

Marshalling is a fun and easy way to help out – no special skills required – just an ability to cycle! We need some faster cyclists to get ahead of the main group but also normal/slow cyclists to ride with the group. We’ll provide a briefing in advance and on the day (marshals needed from approx 9.30 am to 11.30 am, Hungate to Millennium Bridge). If you can help please email your name to yorkcyclecampaign@gmail.com with kidical mass marshal in the subject line.

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Saturday 21st September, 3pm: Green Screen: X Trillion + Panel

A feature documentary following the gruelling journey of eXXpedition’s all-women crew led by Emily Penn as they sail 3,000 miles across the North Pacific Ocean through the densest accumulation of ocean plastic on the planet. Followed by a panel discussion.

City Screen Picturehouse

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Friday 27th September, 9am-4pm: Restoring Nature Conference

Designed to help Town and Parish Councils fulfil their increasing obligations to support nature recovery, this conference is open to anyone with an interest in increasing local biodiversity.

Kirby Misperton Village Hall

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Tuesday 1st October, 6.30-8.30pm: Re-imaging the future – a writing workshop for dreamers and writers

A free event run by Mikyla Limpkin, a local author and community educator, this workshop aims to generate and record visions and ideas for a better world. Open to  non-writers and writers of all ages and abilities. No booking required.

Friargate Quaker Meeting House, Friargate, York, YO1 9RL

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Saturday 5th October, 10am-4pm, UK Fungi Day

The Yorkshire Arboretum is joining in with British Mycological Society celebrations for UK Fungi Day with a range of interactive learning and activities in the Tree Health Centre.

The Yorkshire Arboretum

Connect with nature in YEWs24

York Environment Weeks 2024 offers the chance to find out more about the nature on your doorstep. You can take guided walks and cycle rides around the city’s green spaces, get involved in improving local habitats, or learn how to boost biodiversity in your own back garden. Read on to find out about just some of the many events exploring and celebrating York’s wildlife.

Wednesday 18 September, 10am-12pm: Wildwatch Walk – St Nicks ​​https://yorkenvironmentfestival.org.uk/event/wildwatch-walk-st-nicks/

Join a weekly walk looking at the wildlife to be found within this popular local nature reserve. This is just one of many walks put on by York Walking Festival.

Meet at St Nicholas Fields Nature Reserve, Environment Centre Gate, Rawdon Avenue

Wednesday 18 September, 10am-12.30pm: Forty Years of Wildlife Gardening https://yorkenvironmentfestival.org.uk/event/forty-years-of-wildlife-gardening/

Vanessa Cook is hosting two walks around her organically managed wildlife garden. Learn how this stunning garden has developed and evolved over the last 40 years and find out more about how to manage a garden with wildlife in mind.

Meet at Stillingfleet Lodge Gardens

Wednesday 18 September, 12-1pm: Multi-Sensory Nature Walk https://yorkenvironmentfestival.org.uk/event/multi-sensory-nature-walk/

This multi-sensory nature walk will allow people to experience their surroundings using their senses, smartphone technology and good old pencil and paper!

Meet at the entrance of the Berrick Saul building, University of York (West Campus)

Wednesday 25th September, 1.30-4.30pm: Hedgehog Helpers Action Day https://yorkenvironmentfestival.org.uk/event/hedgehog-helpers-action-day-improving-habitat-for-our-spiky-friends/

Spend an afternoon improving the habitat for hedgehogs on the University of York campus. This is a great opportunity to learn, connect with others, and take action to protect these adorable creatures.

Meet at Forum Building in Constantine College on Heslington East Campus

Saturday 28 September, 4-5.30pm: Weedy Walk https://yorkenvironmentfestival.org.uk/event/weedy-walk/

Join a walk around Bishophill and Scarcroft to identify wild flowers and so-called weeds. Learn more about the value of ‘weeds’ as part of local ecosystems and their many aesthetic and functional qualities.

Meet at Victoria Bar where Victor Street meets Nunnery Lane

Tuesday 1 October and Tuesday 8 October, 2-4.30pm: Cycling Without Age Nature Rides https://yorkenvironmentfestival.org.uk/series/cycling-without-age-nature-rides/

Volunteer pedallers from York Bike Belles are taking passengers out in their comfortable Triobike to enjoy the green spaces around the south of the city.

Meet at Cycle Heaven, Fulford

Browse the full programme: here

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