St Nicks

St Nicks St Nicks, the green heart of York, is a former landfill site transformed into a thriving nature reserve. Registered CIO charity no. 1153739

St Nicks (registered as 'Friends of St Nicholas Fields') is the green heart of York - a centre for nature and green living. We started by transforming a former landfill site into a thriving Local Nature Reserve. We continue to manage it with the help of over 150 volunteers, for the benefit of both wildlife and our visitors. We are based at St Nicks Environment Centre, a showcase of sustainable design features. From this base, we run projects and services that help to make York more sustainable. These include a low emissions kerbside recycling collection, environmental education programme, corporate volunteering days and a programme of events. The Centre is available for booking for meetings, seminars and other events.

‘Time to Garden’ with St Nicks at Yor Community Wellbeing Hub on Clarence Street! 🕑💚We're supporting a weekly gardening ...
10/08/2026

‘Time to Garden’ with St Nicks at Yor Community Wellbeing Hub on Clarence Street! 🕑💚

We're supporting a weekly gardening group at the Hub, Mondays 2-4pm. It's completely free to join and you don't need to book - just drop in, everyone is welcome!

Recently, we planted some drought-tolerant plants around the front of the building (grasses and prairie-style planting will be low maintenance and can tolerate the pollution from the road) and prepared a circular bed. The group wanted it to look like a clock-face and created it with pebbles.

We run 'Time to Garden' (a gentle gardening skills group) at St Nicks Environment Centre too - if you'd like to join or find out more, visit stnicks.org.uk/nature-based-wellbeing/group-activities/

You have one week left to get your applications in to join our Recycling Team! Full info on the role and how to apply is...
07/08/2026

You have one week left to get your applications in to join our Recycling Team! Full info on the role and how to apply is on our website. Join this lovely crew collecting recycling from residents and organisations around the city on electric vehicles and load-bearing tricycles!

https://www.stnicks.org.uk/about-us/vacancies/

There's so much to see and do in nature in August - here’s just 4 reasons to get outdoors! Could you set aside some time...
07/08/2026

There's so much to see and do in nature in August - here’s just 4 reasons to get outdoors! Could you set aside some time in the month to immerse yourself in the natural wonders of summer?

🧺 Go blackberry picking – for many of us, this will bring a sense of nostalgia! Take some time to find the ripest and juiciest berries and let us know how you decide to serve them (jams, crumbles or just as they are?).

🪲 A new generation of tansy beetles will emerge this month – why not head down to the banks of the River Ouse and see if you can spot the Jewel of York?

🌳 Trees are nature’s solution to air con! Find relief from the sun in a shaded woodland or even just a moment of cool under a leafy tree while recognising how important trees are for our climate.

🌙 Evenings are light and sunsets may be golden – can you find some quiet connection with the natural world at dawn or dusk? Maybe you’ll notice swallows gather on overhead wires, hedgehogs emerging in your garden, or foxes wandering the walls. Let us know what you spot!

Have you spotted North Yorkshire's first floating ecosystem yet? Miranda and Beki from our Green Corridors team needed t...
06/08/2026

Have you spotted North Yorkshire's first floating ecosystem yet?

Miranda and Beki from our Green Corridors team needed their sea (well, river!) legs to see how our ecosystem is coming along now it's been in place nearly two years.

They spotted Meadowsweet, Yellow Flag, Water Forget-Me-Not, Great Willowherb and numerous sedges, plus Banded Demoiselle, Blue Damselflies and numerous bees and hoverflies which proved too fast for a decent photograph! Underneath were freshwater shrimp and tiny fish fry - happy to have found a safe hidey-hole away from predators.

The floating platform provides space for wetland and damp-loving plants to establish along hard-edged waterways where they otherwise wouldn't be able to. This creates a more natural waters edge which rises and falls with the water level, and attracts invertebrate life both above and below the surface.

If you haven't seen the ecosystem yet, take a peek over the wall at North Street Gardens! Many thanks to York City Cruises for taking Miranda and Beki out and your expert boat manoeuvring - we're not sure we've seen two happier conservationists!

The BEST way to spend the summer holidays - playing outside in nature! Join us next week for more Summer Holiday Club se...
05/08/2026

The BEST way to spend the summer holidays - playing outside in nature!

Join us next week for more Summer Holiday Club sessions - we've got more den building, crafts, games and magic mud potions in store! Plus, snacks and a tasty lunch.

Sign up for clubs on 11th, 12th and 13th August:
☀️Morning sessions (10am-12:30pm) are for all the family (all children must be accompanied by an adult).
🌳Afternoons (12:30-3pm) are for older children (age 8+) and they don't need to attend this session with an adult.

Book your place on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/st-nicks-20104190073 (Tickets cost £7.50 plus fees per child, or you can book a free place with your HAF vouchers via the Holiday Activities website).

We can't wait to see you there!

Come and learn Bushcraft skills with us! We’re running a completely FREE 2-day course for adults at St Nicks🌳You'll lea...
04/08/2026

Come and learn Bushcraft skills with us! We’re running a completely FREE 2-day course for adults at St Nicks🌳

You'll learn a range of forest skills, including how to use hand tools, build shelters, make cordage and purify water. Plus, you'll discover lots about trees!

There will also be time to relax and feel the wellbeing benefits of being out in our woodlands with like-minded people.

The course runs over 2 days (Monday 17th and Tuesday 18th August, 9:30am - 4pm) and is led by expert instructor Wolf from . (Course participants must be able to attend both days and are happy to bring along their own lunch.)

To sign up, register your interest via the form on our website: stnicks.org.uk/nature-based-wellbeing/group-activities/

-

This group is supported by York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, using funding from the Department for Work and Pensions' Get Britain Working Economic Inactivity Trailblazer.

Heads up — our vehicle Edith is unfortunately off the road 😔 We still have three e-cargo trikes, our trusty pedal-powere...
03/08/2026

Heads up — our vehicle Edith is unfortunately off the road 😔

We still have three e-cargo trikes, our trusty pedal-powered trike Clicky, and our larger vehicle Doris out on the rounds, but we may need to adjust routes or return more often to unload. Please ensure your recycling is out by 8am and left out until 4pm on your scheduled collection day.

Thanks for your patience!

Joining in our Yorkshire Day event? Look out for these signs on and around the City Walls! 💚 Free, self-guided trail 💚 S...
01/08/2026

Joining in our Yorkshire Day event? Look out for these signs on and around the City Walls!

💚 Free, self-guided trail
💚 Saturday 1st August, 10am - 4pm
💚 Wildflower area, Station Rise
💚 Step into Nature and History within York's City Walls

"York residents and visitors will have the chance to look at the walls and city centre through a different perspective — that of our urban wildlife and the people who help to conserve it. And we couldn’t think of a better day to do that than on Yorkshire Day.”

Ey up, you're in for a treat tomorrow!Join us for Yorkshire Day for our new, free event and uncover the hidden connectio...
31/07/2026

Ey up, you're in for a treat tomorrow!

Join us for Yorkshire Day for our new, free event and uncover the hidden connections between nature, heritage and historic spaces in and around York city centre.

Join us for free from 10am and follow the City Walls to discover:

🌱 York Minster's Nature Trail - look out for their amazing chalk board panels!

⚰️ Holy Trinity Church, Goodramgate, York's "How Not to Die in a Churchyard" tour (tours at 11.30am and 2pm) and 'Mouse Trail (find the wooden archaeology mice to win a chocolate prize!).

🦋 Moth Trap Reveal at three different locations - Station Rise (10am), All Saints Church North Street (10.45am), Postern Tower (11.30am)

🎨 Art displays at Foss Islands Wildflower Area and Station Rise by local botanical artist Kayliegh Smith

And lots, lots more! 😍

The trail begins at Station Rise (what3words ///frozen.pies.rapid), which is home to York Walls in Bloom. Here, you can pick up a copy of the trail map and chat with staff and volunteers from St Nicks (trail maps will be available at other points as well).

See you tomorrow!

(More info at stnicks.org.uk/events/yorkshire-day/)

Address

St Nicks Environment Centre, Rawdon Avenue
York
YO103FW

Telephone

01904411821

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when St Nicks posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organisation

Send a message to St Nicks:

Shortcuts

Share

Category