Out and About [York]

Out and about - a guide to (some of) York's green activities
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Wonder what to do that clear, crisp Saturday morning, and you can’t be bothered to open yet another book? What about taking a walk down to St Nicholas Fields nature reserve on Bull Lane?

Of course, you don’t have to make a visit to St Nick’s a procrastinating event. Indeed, you can go there every day and have a wander. Its rich history makes this site interesting not only for environmentalist; a leper hospital in the Middle Ages, a brick-works until it ended up as a landfill for the city of York in the 1950’s, which it served as until 1974. It was then left alone till the plans of an industrial estate was made public in 1988, by the time some people protested, and suggested an alternative; a park and a green space for the local community. A butterfly walk was created, and a mini Stonehenge.

In 2000 the York Environment Centre opened. Perhaps trying out their compost toilet tempts you? Not only that, you can also learn about their electricity generating windmill, and solar power roof. Since the status as a Local Nature Reserve in 2004, many unusual flower species, birds and other small creatures enjoy protection from an increasingly difficult life with houses, houses and …roads everywhere.

Check out St Nick’s if you want to know more about composting. The York Rotters have their nest in the garden of St Nicholas Fields. They are available for advice if you are considering making black gold from your food scraps. If you have spare time on your hands – and don’t mind getting them a little dirty – they give you free training to give other advise on the art of composting. Environment-heaven, here we come!

If you live in any of the following areas: Tang Hall, Lawrence Street, Hull Road, Heslington Road, Aldwark, Holmefield, St Peters Quarter, South Bank and Bishophill areas, your reusable rubbish is being collected by volunteers from St Nick’s from their electric vehicle of tricycles. Did you know that only 17% of everything you can throw away is not reusable?


Brunswick Organic Nursery is a pleasant bike-ride away towards Selby, in Bishopthorpe. Apart from growing organic vegetables, and winning awards for their Brandywine tomatoes, they also have a craft workshop, a woodwork group and a social club for their workers with learning disabilities.

Monday to Friday from 10 to 16.30 you can buy local organic produce, fruit and vegetables, in addition to warm woollen things and cards, woodwork and potted plants in their farm shop on Appleton Road, Bishopthorpe. However, as this isn’t supposed to be a complete advertisement for the hobby called shopping, I better mention that you can help them out as well. Volunteers are more than welcome to help out working with the groups of people with learning disabilities, fundraising events or stalls and fairs. You can go there on the 11 bus from York, fly to Bishopthorpe in you shiny new privat jet or perhaps the best alternative; biking there only takes 20 minutes from the Millennium bridge following the clearly marked bike-path towards Selby.


And if you are extra adventurous, why not go find all the planets in the Solar System? Following the Planets may take you almost to Selby on a very comfortable bike-path, not at all unfit if you are... and you will come home all the more endorfined and educated from your solar journey. Good luck!

Many, but not all of the facts above are found on the following websites:

St Nicholas Field/York Environment Centre: http://www.stnicksfield.org.uk/ The York Rotters tel.; (01904) 412861 and email: rotters@stnicksfields.org.uk Brunswick Organic Nursery: http://www.brunswickyork.org/ The Planets http://www.solar.york.ac.uk/