Read about our most recent news, activities and wonderings on our blog below…
Welcome to our blog
Could you help lead the future of Friends of Rowntree Park?
We’re looking for a new Chair of Trustees to help guide the Friends of Rowntree Park as we continue to grow and develop.
Over the past few years, the charity has grown from a small volunteer group into an organisation supporting over 1,300 members, delivering community events and educational programmes, expanding our volunteer network, creating new wildlife habitats and leading projects such as Make Space York. As our work has grown, so too has the importance of having strong strategic leadership.
The Chair plays a key role in helping shape the future of the charity. Working closely with our Charity Manager and Board of Trustees, the role is about providing guidance, supporting good governance and helping ensure the charity continues to thrive for years to come. It is not about managing the day-to-day running of the park – that’s looked after by our staff, volunteers and project leads.
You don’t need to have been a trustee or charity chair before. We’re looking for someone who cares about community, enjoys bringing people together and wants to help make a positive difference to one of York’s best-loved parks.
Whether your background is in business, education, finance, governance, community work, the environment or something completely different, we’d love to hear from you if you think you could help.
The role is voluntary, with trustee meetings taking place around six times a year, plus occasional catch-ups with our Charity Manager. We also recognise that people balance work, family and other commitments, so we aim to be as flexible as possible.
If you’d like to find out more about what’s involved, the time commitment and how to apply, please visit our Chair of Trustees recruitment page.
If you’re interested but would simply like an informal chat first, we’d be delighted to hear from you.
Rowntree Park Filled with Girls, Creativity and Activity for the Fourth Make Space Festival
June saw Rowntree Park buzzing with activity as the Make Space Festival returned for its fourth year.
Across two days, hundreds of girls and young women took part in a huge range of free activities designed to help them feel welcome, confident and included in York’s parks.
The programme offered something for everyone, with activities ranging from football, rugby, basketball, dance, cheerleading, yoga and orienteering through to photography, willow weaving, tote bag making, lino printing, riso poster creation, clay sculpting, needle felting, jewellery making and lip balm workshops. There was also live music throughout the weekend thanks to Emerging Talent, including performances from young musicians, open mic opportunities and the chance to try instruments in a supportive environment.
For many visitors, however, the highlight was simply seeing so many girls enjoying the park.
Creating parks that work for teenage girls
The Make Space York project began in Rowntree Park in 2021, following conversations with local teenage girls about their experiences of parks and public spaces.
Many described feeling less welcome in parks as they got older. Some felt too old for playgrounds, while others did not feel comfortable using spaces that were heavily focused on competitive sport. The project was established to better understand these experiences and work with girls to make positive changes.
Since then, local girls have helped shape improvements to the park, including the creation of an area with equipment specifically requested by them. Their ideas have also led to the annual Make Space Festival, which provides opportunities to try new things, meet new people, build confidence and enjoy spending time outdoors.
The project aims to challenge the well-documented drop-off in park use as girls enter their teenage years and demonstrate that parks can and should be welcoming spaces for everyone.
Supported by local partners and funders
The Friends of Rowntree Park are proud to support the Make Space York project and its ongoing work with girls and young women.
This year’s sports, activity and movement programme was supported through the Movement, Activity and Sport Fund, part of the Moving Forward campaign led by David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, and the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority.
Additional support came from a range of funders and partners who share the vision of creating more inclusive parks and opportunities for young people.
Thank you
The Friends of Rowntree Park would like to thank all of the facilitators, volunteers, performers, funders, parents, carers and, most importantly, the girls themselves who helped make this year’s festival such a success.
It was wonderful to see Rowntree Park full of activity, creativity and friendship, and to see so many girls taking up space and making the park their own. We look forward to continuing this work in the years ahead.
The Make Space Festival 2026 – free events for teenage girls in York parks
We are excited to announce the return of the Make Space Festival for 2026. Across two weekends in June, York’s parks will come alive with over 40 free events and activities designed especially for older girls.
Saturday 13 & Sunday 14 June – Rowntree Park
Saturday 20 & Sunday 21 June – Homestead Park
This is a chance to try something new, meet new people, and feel confident spending time in public space.
There are sessions focused on sport and exercise, arts and crafts the performing arts, social awareness, nature connection and much more! See the poster for just a few examples of some of the activities on offer in June 2026.
Some activities are bookable, while others are more relaxed drop in sessions. Bookable sessions have limited numbers – please only book if you know you can attend.
Free events for older girls in York Parks
The festival is primarily for girls aged 10 to 18, with some activities suitable from age 8+. Some sessions have specific age guidance, and it’s important that bookings are made within the correct age group so that everyone gets the most out of the experience.
The term ‘festival’ is used loosely – this isn’t a big, loud, crowded event. It’s something much more relaxed. Think of it as a collection of activities spread across the park. A welcoming, inclusive space where you can explore, take part, or simply spend time with others. It’s about creating a space where girls feel comfortable and confident to have a go.
Thank you
This festival wouldn’t be possible without the support of our funders and partners, including:
Rowntree Park Tree Trail
A New Way to Explore the Trees of Rowntree Park
There’s a new way to wander through Rowntree Park and it begins with looking up!
We’re excited to share Walk on the Wild Side, a free digital tree trail created by the Friends of Rowntree Park in partnership with local app developers Boon & Moil. The trail is designed to help people slow down, notice the nature around them and discover the stories hidden among the park’s trees.
Rowntree Park is home to a wide variety of trees
Rowntree Park is home to an incredible variety of trees, from towering native species to ornamental favourites planted over many decades. Many visitors walk past them every day without knowing what they are or how much they change throughout the year. This trail is an invitation to reconnect with them season by season.
The trail takes visitors on a gentle walk around the park, stopping at 20 different trees along the way. You’ll meet familiar species such as Alder, Oak, Sycamore, Lime, Elm and Silver Birch, alongside ornamental trees including Bird Cherry and the beautiful Japanese cherry blossom trees that brighten the park in spring.
Identify tree flowers and tree fruits and seeds
Rather than simply identifying trees once and moving on, the trail encourages people to return throughout the year and notice the changes. In spring you might spot blossom, buds and dangling catkins. Summer brings dense green canopies and the chance to learn how to identify trees by their leaves and bark. Then autumn arrives with seeds, fruits and changing colours scattered across the ground.
The app includes an easy-to-follow map, simple information about each tree and illustrated tree cards to help people learn what to look for. There’s also a shorter children’s version designed for little legs and curious young explorers. Illustrations for the trail were created by local illustrator Ellie Lewis.
As a charity, the Friends of Rowntree Park are passionate about helping people connect with nature and with each other. Our volunteers support the park through gardening projects, wildlife initiatives, community events, nature activities and environmental projects throughout the year. Creating the tree trail felt like a natural extension of that work.
Enjoy some time engaging with nature with the Rowntree Park Tree Trail
We hope the trail gives people a reason to pause, wander a little more slowly and perhaps begin to recognise the trees they pass every day. The trail takes around 30 minutes to an hour depending on how much exploring you choose to do along the way. It’s completely free to use, with no booking required, and works well even on older devices.
Printed leaflets are also available for a small donation from the Reading Café in the park.
With Thanks to Henry and Adam who volunteered their time and skill to develop this app for Rowntree Park. Visit Boon & Moil App developers site here
If you’d like to donate to our charity that help maintain and improve the park – then we’d love that!
Art in the Park 2026 – Rowntree Park
‘The Colours of Rowntree Park’
Calling York artists!
Have your work displayed in Rowntree Park.
After the success of Art in the Park over the last few years, Friends of Rowntree Park are delighted to launch Art in the Park 2026 and invite York artists and creative people to submit work inspired by the park.
Art in the Park began in 2021 as part of Rowntree Park’s centenary celebrations and has grown into one of the park’s most loved community projects. Each year, selected artwork is displayed on boards in the heart of the park, bringing colour, creativity and interest to the railings through the seasons.
For 2026, the theme is The Colours of Rowntree Park. This is a loose theme and can be interpreted in many different ways. Artists might explore the changing seasons, familiar park features, flowers and wildlife, or the atmosphere and life of the park itself.
We welcome submissions from York based artists, makers and creative enthusiasts of any age. Previous displays have included painting, drawing, printmaking, textiles and mixed media. Work needs to be submitted digitally for printing and display.
The deadline for submissions is 24th June 2026 – Please read the information for artists before submitting.
If you want to be in the email list to get up to date information and be reminded of the deadline (or ask any questions) contact art@rowntreepark.org.uk
Around 15 to 18 artworks will be chosen for display, and all artists will be contacted after the selection process.
Some selected artworks may also be considered for use in fundraising products such as prints, cards or the Friends of Rowntree Park calendar, which helps raise funds for our work in the park. Full information about this is included in the downloadable artist guidance.
To submit your work – read the full information for artists that is accessible using the link below. If you have any questions, Kathryn and Beryl, who volunteer to lead Art in the Park, can be contacted at art@rowntreepark.org.uk.
Please read the information for artists before submitting
Rowntree Park Wassail 2026
Families gathered in Rowntree Park on a weekend in late January for the Friends of Rowntree Park’s annual Wassail, a joyful winter celebration inspired by an ancient English tradition and reimagined for the local community.
Now in its third year, our Wassail continues to grow in popularity, with around 40 families attending this year’s event. The celebration brings people together to connect with nature, mark the turning of the seasons and share a moment of warmth and fun during the darker months of the year.
The afternoon’s events began with a range of hands-on crafts for families, including nature themed headbands, noise shakers and jingle sticks. Local storyteller Lara McClure captivated children and adults alike with the tale of the Apple Man, setting the scene for the celebrations to come. The event was then joined by Ramshackle Morris, who performed and then there was also the opportunity for families to join in.
Together, the group processed through the park to the Rowntree Park orchard, home to twelve different apple trees. There, families made plenty of noise to wake the trees from their winter rest, dipped bread into warm wassail juice and hung it on branches as offerings to thank the ‘spirit of the tree’, traditionally symbolised by robins. Ribbons were tied to branches and wishes were made for the year ahead, before everyone shared a warming cup of wassail juice together.
Wassailing has ancient roots in Britain and is traditionally associated with wishing apple trees health and encouraging a good harvest in the year to come. The Friends of Rowntree Park’s Wassail offered a modern, family friendly take on this tradition, focusing on inclusion, creativity and connection to the natural world.
“It’s about bringing people together in the park, celebrating the seasons, and creating shared memories that feel rooted in place. Also we are encouraging families to come and see the apple trees blossom in spring and then return to try the fruits in autumn. A great way to celebrate the cycle of the trees, seasons and nature in general.”
The Friends of Rowntree Park would like to thank all volunteers who helped make the event possible and all who came along to join in.
Call out for events – Make Space York Festival 2026
Get involved! Facilitators, creatives, organisations and community groups come and part of the Make Space Festival of Free Events, taking place in June 2026. The festival brings teenage girls into York’s parks to try new things, meet new people and feel confident and welcome in public space.
Dates and locations
13 & 14 June 2026 – Rowntree Park
20 & 21 June 2026 – Second York park (TBC)
Events run across both weekends, during the daytime.
How you can get involved
Activities can include sport, movement, arts, creativity, wellbeing, nature based sessions, performance or anything that works well in a park and would appeal to teenage girls. If you think “this could work outdoors” then I would love to hear from you.
You can apply to:
-Run an activity or workshop
-Host a drop-in stall (activities, crafts, awareness, information)
-Join the wider project team and help make the festival happen
About Make Space York
The Make Space York project started by Abigail Gaines in 2021 with engagement with teenage girls on what would make Rowntree Park more welcoming to them. This led to co creating an area in the park with girls with equipment they asked for, and also the festival of free events. The festival began in 2023 – the UK’s first dedicated programme of park-based events for teenage girls. It has since become an annual festival, reaching around 350 girls each year.
The project exists to address the well evidenced drop-off in park use as girls enter their teenage years. Many girls tell us parks do not feel welcoming or that there is nothing for them. This festival is about changing that, through visibility, activity and joy in public space.
The project won a national Green Flag award in 2023 for Best Initiative in the UK to increase park use by women and girls. The project as a whole has featured as a case study in research and guidance used across the UK. The project is run by Abigail with support from volunteers and continues to evolve and be shaped by York teenage girls.
Running an activity or event
Sessions can be:
• A one-off activity (1 to 1.5 hours)
• A drop-in activity stall (2-4 hours)
You would be responsible for your own equipment and delivery.
Facilitators can choose to:
• Volunteer their time
• Request a fee (£50, £75 or £100 per session, depending on activity and length)
The project has a limited budget, so not all paid requests can be accommodated. We aim to create a balanced, varied programme that appeals to a wide range of girls. All facilitators are promoted through festival marketing, social media and partner networks.
Key practical information
Activities are usually aimed at girls aged 10-18, but age ranges are flexible and some can include girls from age 8 and others may include adults.
• Sessions run outdoors in the park
• Events are free to attend
• Public liability insurance and a risk assessment are required (support available)
• Parents and carers remain responsible for their children
• A limited amount of basic equipment such as tables, stools and a gazebo may be available to borrow, however having your own equipment helps
Stall holders
We are also inviting interest from stall holders, particularly on Saturdays.
Stalls may include:
• Information or awareness related to girls and women
• Drop-in creative or activity stalls
• A small number of food or refreshment stalls
Community groups and small charities can usually take part free of charge.
Small fees apply to individuals/businesses (from £15-25) and food stalls (fee TBD generally £100+). Details shared at application stage.
Expression of interest
If you are interested, please complete the expression of interest form. Submitting a form does not commit you to taking part and not all applications will be selected. We aim for variety across the programme.
For questions, contact:
makespaceyork@gmail.com
(hello@rowntreepark.org.uk)
Thank you for helping us continue to make space for girls in York’s parks.
Design our charity Christmas card!
Calling Artists. Help Us Create the Rowntree Park Christmas Cards for 2026
Every year the Friends of Rowntree Park create a set of Christmas cards to raise money for our charity. All proceeds support the work our volunteers do to help maintain and improve the park for the whole community.
Deadline for submissions – 31st March 2026
We are looking for artists who want to design a Christmas Card to be part of our Rowntree Park Christmas card pack for 2026. Selling Rowntree Park calendar and Christmas Cards helps raise much needed funds for our charity that help maintain and improve Rowntree Park.
For the last few years we have been lucky enough to feature the beautiful and whimsical illustrations of Ellie Lewis. Her designs have celebrated the wildlife you can spot in Rowntree Park along with some of the park’s most recognisable features. Ellie has very kindly given her time and talent to us for several years and we are giving her a well deserved rest in 2026. This means we are looking for an artist or a range of artists to create our next collection of charity Christmas cards.
We are hoping to find artists who would be willing to volunteer their time and skill. We understand this is not possible for everyone because artists need to cover their costs and exposure does not pay the bills. However we do want to be open about what we can offer. Our mailing list reaches over 1000 and the finished designs are displayed in frames in the York Explore Cafe in Rowntree Park throughout December. Our artists often receive further interest in their work.
We know it is early to be talking about Christmas but we like to get organised!
If you think you might like to be involved we would love to hear from you. You can either drop us a line before the deadline to chat or just submit a design by the deadline of 31st March 2026 to hello@rowntreepark.org.uk. Cards will be A6 printed and portrait – please send Jpgs of your design(s). We will make our final selection from everything submitted.
If you have any questions or want to put yourself forward, please get in touch with Abigail at hello@rowntreepark.org.uk. We are very happy to chat.
We cannot wait to see the creativity that 2026 will bring.
Hello Autumn!
Celebrate the seasons at our Rowntree Park ‘Autumn Fayre’ – Sunday 14th of September 2025
We’d love you to come along to our community event with a traditional vibe in Rowntree Park on Sunday 14th of September 2025. It’s all about celebrating the end of summer and the start of Autumn – with a fairly big ‘apple’ focus!
The event is free to attend (1pm-4pm), but there will be some crafts and activities that have a cost – some may need booking in advance as numbers are limited. Other activities are drop in and free to attend (donations welcomed):
Events and activities include:
– Live Music from the Mermaidens, Lord Leak and Lucy’s Pop Choir
– Morris Dancing from Ramshackle Morris
-Crafts and activities for families including willow weaving, apple printing, apple headbands, foraged prints
– Storytelling
-Cakes, Bakes and Jam stall
-Apple Pressing & Apple ID from Abundance York (TBC)
-St Nicks info stall for Green Corridors
Book or drop in?
The event as whole is free and some activities you can just ‘drop in’ . Some events have a cost and need booking in advance as places are limited:
-Printing a foraging bag (children)
-Needle Felt a Toadstool
Booking now open here
The fayre is based in the centre of the park near the lychgate/dove cote
Can you bake or create a jam for us to sell and raise fund for our charity? Get in touch!
Pop down and see what’s happening!
Call for a volunteer Autumn Fayre lead
Help us bring Rowntree Park’s Autumn Fayre to life!
The Friends of Rowntree Park charity is looking for a passionate and organised volunteer to take the lead on planning and coordinating our much-loved Autumn Fayre, happening on Sunday 14th September 2025.
This community celebration marks the end of summer and the arrival of autumn, with a joyful, traditional vibe and a strong apple theme! It usually includes a mix of crafts, nature activities, foraging walk, stalls, music and more. We keep it quite small so it remains community focused and weather depending, an average of 70-250 people get involved.
We need someone to take the reins and help make it a success! You can shape it anyway you like within the general aim of connecting the community with the park and season.
Your Role: Autumn Fayre Volunteer Lead
We’re looking for someone to act as the event organiser/project manager for the fayre. You’ll be supported by the Friends of Rowntree Park Charity Manager and we will seek volunteers for the day, but you’ll be the key person keeping everything on track.
What you’ll be doing:
- Coordinating the overall planning of the event
- Creating a schedule/timetable for the day
- Contacting and booking individuals, groups or stallholders to run activities or provide entertainment
- Helping manage logistics such as layout, timings, materials and volunteer roles on the day
- Liaising with our team to promote the event and support advance bookings
- Being our main point of contact for the fayre’s planning and on-the-day setup
About You
You don’t need to be a professional event planner, just someone who:
- Is friendly, reliable and enjoys bringing people together
- Is well-organised and good at communicating
- Can take initiative and keep an eye on the bigger picture
- Enjoys nature, community and helping make great things happen in the park!
Experience in event planning, project coordination or volunteering is a bonus, but not essential.
What’s in it for you?
- A chance to use your creativity and skills to shape a much-loved community event
- Meet brilliant local people and organisations
- Gain or build experience in community project coordination
- Work closely with a small, supportive and passionate team
- Make a meaningful difference in your local area
Interested?
We’d love to hear from you!
Email Abigail at hello@rowntreepark.org.uk to express your interest, ask questions, or arrange a chat.
Let’s make this Autumn Fayre the best one yet!
