Latest News and Posts

York is officially participating in the global biodiversity initiative called the City Nature Challenge from 26-29th April 2024 for the first time! Join us for the inaugural launch event from 12:30-1:30pm on 26th April at the Marriott Room in the York Explore Library and Archive (Library Square, Museum St, York YO1 7DS): sign up to attend the launch here! At the launch, you can engage with various community groups, researchers, educators and the public about local biodiversity over tea and cakes, and then head outside to the Museum Gardens to record biodiversity on the iNaturalist app! Anyone and everyone can participate – All one needs is access to a smartphone or a camera and a computer, to take photos/sounds of biodiversity and upload them to iNaturalist, a global biodiversity platform. More information about how to participate can be found on our York City Nature Challenge website. You can make biodiversity observations in your own time, or join the many events being hosted across greater York. Have a read about the spark behind this project from Smriti Safaya (University of York).

According to data for 2022, 40 sites along the Ouse are regularly polluted by sewage dumping, with 1,656 incidents recorded in a single year. Yorkshire’s rivers are amongst the worst for sewage discharge, with the region’s water company reportedly responsible for a daily average of around 150 sewage overflows. 

This river pollution, in combination with the impacts of agricultural pollution of our waterways has devastating consequences.  It poisons the entire food chain of the river from plants to insects to fish with knock-on effects on the health and survival of animals and people who depend on it.

River pollution came up as one of the key issues for York residents at last year’s People’s Assembly.  In response, everyone is invited to  march, sail, row or paddle down the River Ouse together on Saturday 10th Feb, showing our love for the River Ouse.  More information and sign-up here.

Here are a few of the reasons York residents will be getting involved:

“I’m taking part in support for a cleaner, healthier Ouse. We all have a right to access nature that’s not polluted, and this is especially important for young people” – Immi

“It’s absolutely scandalous that the Ouse is repeatedly polluted by the organisation paid to look after it….We’re calling on Yorkshire Water to take their responsibility seriously and clean up the Ouse” – Richard

“I love the Ouse, but sadly it’s so polluted….. but we CAN do something about it so please come along and join us on the 10th” – Vida

Felicity and Lynda are hosting a new reading group based on Greta Thunberg’s The Climate Book.

This will take place on Thursdays 5-6pm in room SLB/207, Spring Lane Building, University of York Campus West.

The group is starting on 16th November, reading and discussing a chapter each week (starting at 1.1), going weekly until 7th December. The plan is to pick up it again in the New Year.

All welcome, no need to register. See our events calendar for confirmed dates.

Got questions?  Get in touch with Lynda via  lynda.dunlop@york.ac.uk 

In The Climate Book, Greta Thunberg has gathered the wisdom of over one hundred experts – geophysicists, oceanographers and meteorologists; engineers, economists and mathematicians; historians, philosophers and indigenous leaders – to equip us all with the knowledge we need to combat climate disaster. Alongside them, she shares her own stories of demonstrating and uncovering greenwashing around the world, revealing how much we have been kept in the dark. This is one of our biggest challenges, she shows, but also our greatest source of hope. Once we are given the full picture, how can we not act? And if a schoolchild’s strike could ignite a global protest, what could we do collectively if we tried?

🦅🪸🌿🍄🦀 Restore Nature Now -York Rally 🪲🦔🦈🐍🐙

⏰ Thurs 28th Sept 8am-2pm
📍DEFRA Foss House, 1-2 Peasholme Green, YO1 7PX

Calling nature lovers, Nature NGOs, their members, birdwatchers, river-swimmers, gardeners, ramblers, scientists and all concerned citizens.

Yorkshire’s wildlife charities, campaigners, nature lovers and their families are joining together on Thursday morning to protest at the government’s failure to address the deepening crisis in Nature, laid bare in the devastating State of Nature Report. They join more than 40 of the UK’s leading organsisations for nature advocacy. TV presenter and naturalist Chris Packham is leading the direct call to the UK government’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). Scientists, wildlife experts, Nature charities, their members and many more will be lining the entrances to Defra offices in London, Bristol, Reading and York.

👉 Watch Chris Packham’s call to action

👉 Visit the Restore Nature Now campaign webpage
👉 Join a (broadcast only) WhatsApp group for York updates: https://chat.whatsapp.com/BGIZAlyYJgbDJED1IyBM4p

👉  Want to add your organisation to the supporters list?  Want to give a speech? Email yorkcliconnect@proton.me

Organisations supporting the action in York include:

🐾 The ‘State Of Nature’ report, compiled by more than 50 organisations, will be released the day before. It will document that Nature in the UK is being annihilated.
🐾 We need to ensure current and potential future political leaders know just how vital it is that we act urgently to protect and restore our living world. 
🐾 Lawful, peaceful rallies are taking place at Defra offices across the UK:  London, Bristol, Newcastle, Reading and York!
🐾 Bring flags, placards, flyers and your voices calling on the government to show leadership and Restore Nature Now

Nature doesn’t have a voice – but we do.

As part of York Environment Week will be running a workshop based on the Biodiversity Collage. This will take place on Sunday 24th September, 10am-1pm. More details and registration at https://bit.ly/YEWbiodiversity