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

Spread the word. We’re keen for information about the programme to be shared as widely as possible, so please pass it on to your friends, family and colleagues.

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The Full Programme is now up on the website

The full programme for 2024 is up on the website, with over 90 events happening across the city, from 14th September to 12th October.

YEWs is an annual city-wide festival aimed at showcasing and celebrating the work of environment groups active in York. It offers groups and organisations the opportunity to work together to promote environmental activity. The programme is for anyone who cares about tackling climate change, increasing biodiversity and making the city more sustainable, offering opportunities to connect and get involved.

This year’s programme includes the widest range of events yet. There are talks, workshops and film screenings on a variety of environmental topics, as well as opportunities to develop practical skills such as gardening and foraging. Festival-goers can explore York’s local environment on various walking and cycling tours, or enjoy nature-inspired art and music. For the first time this year YEWs also features a festival within a festival: York Opens Green Spaces (YOGS) on the weekends of 28-29th September and 5-6th October.

All events are free, though some require booking.

The full YEWs24 programme is available here.

The YEW organising team said: “We’re thrilled to see such a diverse range of events in this year’s festival, including both familiar faces and brand new event organisers. We believe there’s something in the programme for everyone, whether you want to explore York’s green spaces, get stuck in with hands-on conservation tasks, or learn about how we can make our homes and the city more sustainable.” 

If you need to be in contact with us then email info@yorkenvironmentweek.org.uk

or you can phone Louise on 07792 125 353.

We are really looking forward to seeing you at some point in the coming weeks.

YEWs 2024 programme launching soon

We’ve been thrilled to receive such a wide range of event submissions this year, from walks to workshops to arts events. We now have a programme of over 90 events spread over four weeks – our biggest festival yet! 

We’re currently working towards launching the programme at the beginning of September. Our volunteers are busy putting all the events up on our website and the programme is being printed. 

We can’t wait to share with you all the brilliant events in York Environment Weeks 2024!

Remember you can sign up to updates straight to your in-box, go to the bottom of our website homepage to find the sign-up boxes.