PRESS RELEASE: First Environment Week to be held in York

The first York Environment Week will run from 28 November – 6 December with more than 20 online events showcasing the range of environmental activities and groups in and around York.

Organised under the themes of energy, food, nature, resources and waste, and transport and travel, the wide-ranging programme encompasses eco-housing, Doughnut Economics, the history of Amsterdam’s cycling revolution, flood risk management, the environmental impact of mobile phones and much more.

Researcher and environmental writer Mike Berners-Lee, author of the ground-breaking (and recently updated and expanded) book, ‘How Bad Are Bananas? The Carbon Footprint of Everything’ and ‘There is No Planet B’ will also be giving a keynote for an event launching a revitalised One Planet York. 

Other events during the week take a ‘how to’ approach, looking at haybox cooking, draught-proofing your home and creating small solar power systems. 

York Environment Week is also an opportunity to learn about the work of groups and organisations, including St Nicks Environment Centre, Good Food York, Edible York, York Greenways, Extinction Rebellion York and York Community Energy.

The festival, which coincides with National Tree Week, originally had 15 planned outdoor events for people to take part in practical activities tending to trees, but these have had to be postponed due to a second national lockdown. However there are still opportunities to learn about and celebrate trees through virtual events including a guide to New Earswick’s trees, a chance to learn about Rowntree Park Forest School and an introduction to a community tree planting scheme from Greener Pocklington, as well as an event on the “Slow the Flow” programme to help reduce downstream flood impacts through upland tree planting.  

Trees – and housing design – were a passion of campaigner and long-serving York Environment Forum secretary, Philip Crowe, who was a founding member of Treemendous York and York Tomorrow (set up to oppose the Coppergate II scheme).   A special event is being held to commemorate architect and illustrator Philip, who died on 13 September, bringing together architects Richard Partington (of York’s Derwenthorpe development) and David Mikhail, who has been commissioned to design York’s pioneering Housing Development Programme of around 600 homes to Passivhaus standard.

The programme has been put together by members of York Environment Forum and aims to celebrate and promote the work of local environmental groups and amplify “The voice for the environment in York”. 

The Forum’s Chair, Penny Bainbridge, said: “We know the environment – built and natural – is a big concern for York people. A recent survey showed York is the greenest city in the UK in terms of residents’ eco-friendly habits. 

“David Attenborough’s huge following shows that people want to know what they can do and learn practical, sustainable things to make the living world a better place.

“We hope York Environment Week will help them to do that, and to connect the global problems of species extinction, climate change and environmental degradation to positive solutions that they can get involved with locally.

“We want to show just how much work is already going on in and around the city. There are so many groups full of passionate, knowledgeable people, and they don’t always get the credit – or the support – that they need and deserve. We want York Environment Week to shine a light on them.”

Organisers also want the week of activities and events to create further momentum for implementing York’s climate emergency target of net-zero emissions by 2030, as well as establishing the foundation for a bigger festival in 2021 in advance of the UN climate conference COP26, to be held in Glasgow in November.

Many events will be recorded and uploaded to the YEW YouTube channel so that they are available to watch again, which is also designed to create a legacy of resources and information.

Listings for all events will go live on Sunday 8 November on www.yorkenvironmentweek.org.uk 

All events are organised by, and the responsibility of the individual groups running them and require pre-booking. 

Ends

General enquiries: info@yorkenvironmentweek.org.uk

PRESS RELEASE: Call for events for first York Environment Week

A call for events from York groups for a predominantly online environmental festival opens today (Monday 7 September).

The first city-wide York Environment Week (YEW) will run from 28th November to 6th December 2020.  

Co-ordinated by York Environment Forum, YEW2020 aims to celebrate and showcase the work of environmental groups active in York, and to amplify ‘The voice for the environment in York’.

The Forum, which was established over ten years ago, plays an active role in local consultation processes, as well as taking a proactive stance on engagement with topical issues. 

YEW2020 offers groups the opportunity to  work together to share and promote environmental messages,  access shared publicity through its website, social media and printed publicity,  get practical support for using online technology for YEW event(s) and benefit from YEW branding. 

Submissions are welcomed for a range of events, and there are five themes: Energy; Food; Nature; Resources and waste; Transport and travel. Event are likely to be virtual unless actual events can be held in a Covid-safe manner. 

Videos, films, slideshows, webinars, recorded presentations/talks/panel discussions for the environment week should be recorded and uploaded to the YEW YouTube channel so that they are available to watch again.

“Our vision is for the YouTube channel to create a legacy for York groups and for YEW,” said York Environment Forum Chair Penny Bainbridge. 

“We are particularly keen on show and tell events that inspire participants to learn new skills and make use of good practice.”

The organisers want to encourage the active involvement of young people and marginalised people throughout the YEW programme, which will highlight local and global environmental issues. They hope the programme will offer events that benefit physical and mental health as well as having a positive impact on participants’ financial resources.

Events should be not for profit and open to all to attend.

York Environment Week takes place concurrently with National Tree Week (28 November-6 December 2020) and it is hoped that pledges to plant trees locally will be collected during the week, if not actual tree planting.  

Groups wishing to submit an event should read the guidelines on the YEW website and fill out an online form. The closing date for submissions is 18 October. 

To apply to be part of YEW 2020, go to: https://yorkenvironmentweek.org.uk/host-an-event/

Information for Editors

Contact for media: Kate Lock Klockworks@btinternet.com  07792 633984

Contact for inquiries: Kate Hignett, info@yorkenvironmentweek.org.uk 

Website: https://yorkenvironmentweek.org.uk/

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YouTube York Environment Week 2020

York Environment Forum

York Environment Week 2020 is the first such event to be held by York Environment Forum (YEF). York Environment Forum is the voice for the environment in York, encompassing both the natural environment and the built environment.

The Environment Forum has been operating for many years and is one of the outside bodies that the City of York Council works in partnership with. It meets monthly and is open to groups and individuals interested in environmental issues and how they affect York. Annual membership is £5 for individuals and £10 for groups and businesses.

Traditionally, the Forum has functioned as a ‘critical friend’ to the Council, commenting and writing reports on policies and strategies as they relate to York’s environment and, from time to time, campaigning on specific issues.

YEF’s aims and objectives are:

  • to advise and comment on policies and strategic issues in York that affect the built and natural environment,
  • to encourage community initiatives that improve sustainability,
  • to enable information exchange and networking among members and supporters in York,
  • to scrutinise and monitor the progress of the Local Plan.

The Forum’s specialist work on the natural environment is carried out through Treemendous and the involvement of other specialist member organisations. It also has a Transport group that is active on strategic issues aimed at improving travel in and around the city.

https://yorkenvironmentforum.org.uk/

Now accepting event submissions!

We are pleased to announce that we are now accepting submissions for events for the 2020 York Environment Week!

If you would like to get involved, check out the Host an event page, where you will find more information on the kind of events we are looking for, and the form for submitting your event to us.

Looking forward to reading your ideas!