Full Programme Announced!

York Environment Week (YEW) has announced its full programme for 2023, with more events than ever before. Now in its fourth year, YEW is running from Saturday 23 September – Sunday 1 October (plus more events before and after), offering a wide range of environment-focused activities across York that are free and open to all.

YEW 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.

Inspired by the UN Secretary General’s call for “climate action on all fronts”, the theme of this year’s YEW is “everything, everywhere, all at once”. This is reflected in a varied programme of more than 60 events that includes everything from nature walks to climate education events to a People’s Assembly discussing how York should respond to the climate crisis as a city. There will also be arts events, films, talks for all ages, events exploring practical solutions to environmental issues, and a pilgrimage for the planet. 

The full YEW23 programme is available at: yorkenvironmentweek.org.uk/yew-events-2023

The YEW organising team said: “​​We are delighted to see so many events this year and to have lots of old friends back on board, as well as welcoming many new event organisers. We invite the people of York to explore the programme, discover a new community of like-minded people, and start making a difference for the better. Working together to take action, we can have so much more of an impact.”

Thank you to Sophie R Howard Graphic Design for the illustration.

YEW23 – Deadline for online submissions closes this Friday!

Don’t miss out on being part of YEW23

The deadline for inclusion in the print programme might have passed, but it’s not too late to take part in York Environment Week. The deadline to submit your event to be featured on our website is Friday 25 August.

Thinking of hosting an event?

Here are a few things to remember:

  • Our YEW22 webpage and social media pages have details of events from previous years if you are looking for inspiration, or just an idea of the kind of festival York Environment Week is!
  • York Environment Week is looking to host a range of events this year that reflects the broad range of environmentally aware organisations and communities in York. We welcome one-off or repeat events, competitions, and online activities. Our only stipulations: that events be ‘not-for-profit’, that organisers endeavour to make their events as accessible as possible, and that that your event fosters an inclusive space to make York a greener place.
  • If you need any help or advice, the organising team is on hand to answer questions, either by email (info@yorkenvironmentweek.org.uk) or via our social media pages (Twitter: @yorkenvweek, Facebook: @YorkEnvironmentWeek, Instagram: @yorkenvironmentweek).
  • Here are some helpful links:

If you decide to submit an event for the YEW23 programme, you’ll be in great company. The programme this year includes events hosted by a wide range of organisations:

The Groves Repair + Share – St Nicks – Move the Masses – TCV – York Cycle Campaign – Friends of Rowntrees Park – Glen Gardens – Planet South Bank – York Bus Forum – York Disability Rights Forum – Cleaner Greener Fulford – York Community Energy – TUC – City of York Council – Edible York – York Bike Belles – Global Justice York – York CliConnect – The Stables Yoga Centre – York Walking Festival – York 50+ Festival – Friargate Quakers – CND – Medact – The Barberellas – York Theatre Royal – Extinction Rebellion – Friends of the Earth – With Many Roots – Terpsichoring – Stop Burning Trees Coalition – Christian Climate Action – York Climate Cafe – University of York

Meet the YEW organising team

As we move closer to the deadline for event submissions for York Environment Week 2023, we wanted to share a little more about us – the people behind the programme.

We’re a small team with different backgrounds and motivations, but we all care passionately about environmental issues and the natural world. Read on to find out more about why we’ve all chosen to get involved with YEW…

Maddie Brace: “I’ve found doing something practical can relieve some of the weight of climate anxiety that so many of us experience. If for no other reason than your own wellbeing, get involved in a group or event and try to make a difference for the better – you’ll feel less alone, less afraid, and might have fun!”

Kate Hignett: “It’s about joining the dots. There’s lots of community environmental activity going on across York and it needs to be more visible. Taking part in YEW is one way to do this. YEW showcases how members of the community in York are working hard to do their bit on climate change. We want to celebrate them, and inspire many more to join them.”

Kay Harrison: “York Environment Week is now in its fourth year and has fast become a staple of the city’s festival line-up. I love that it makes talking about, and taking action on, the climate crisis a more accessible and less daunting prospect – whether that means getting your hands stuck into home-gardening for the first time or learning more about climate activism. There are lots of groups in York who do amazing things to help us protect our planet, and bringing them together during York Environment Week is a great way to help people discover a new community of like-minded people – and maybe even a new hobby!”

Debby Cobbett: “I have been involved with YEW in different ways since it started in 2020 and see no reason to stop now as we need to work as hard as we can to build a healthier, fairer and greener world.”

Catherine Love-Smith: “Since moving to York, I’ve always been looking for more ways to support climate action and to celebrate and protect the natural environment. When confronting the climate and ecological crisis, it can often feel overwhelming and it’s easy to wonder what you can possibly do as an individual. The great thing about York Environment Week – and one of the reasons I’ve got involved this year – is that it connects people and organisations who want to take action. Working together, I believe we can have so much more of an impact.”

Adam Myers: “The natural world has been an important part of my life, the backdrop to my day to day living and the focus of holidays. I am acutely aware of the loss of biodiversity in my lifetime, and the environmental crisis. As I became involved in protest about climate change, I felt the attention was more on climate than on the parallel ecological crisis. I was aware that I was unusual in my connection and understanding of nature. And then I heard there was the possibility that there would not be a York Environment Week this year. I felt that it was crucial in the current context and I advocated strongly that YEW should happen. Having advocated strongly for it, I felt I had to put my energy into backing what I said was so important. So here I am, doing my best to support YEW23 to happen.”

If you feel inspired to get involved yourself, why not host an event in YEW 2023? It’s a great way to reach out and connect with like-minded people in the city. If you want to talk to us about your ideas, you can contact us on email or social media. Or if you already have an event in mind, simply fill out the online form.

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