We are excited to be involved in this focused bio blitz across York to raise awareness of biodiversity in the city, and get some data! This is the second year York has been involved in the City Wide Nature Challenge.
Get involved in an event at Rowntree Park!
We have lots of events and activities happening in Rowntree Park as part of the weekend and all ages can get involved. As well as the events, we will also have a drop in stall under the cafe in Rowntree Park on Saturday 26th April 10.30-2.30pm where you can find out more , share your finds- and also borrow some spotter sheets, bug packs and other things! We are also launching out new Pollinator Art Trail featuring creative pieces by local artist Emma Fenenely along wit information about common pollinators found in Rowntree Park (Trail sheets £1) – more info here
Anyone and everyone can get involved in collecting data using the INaturalist App – you snap what you see and it records what was found and where.
On Friday 25th, York Cares are running a nature walk in Rowntree Park 2-4pm that anyone can join for free – but book places in advance using their form here.
For more information in general and how to use the INaturalist App, check out the main York City Wide Nature Challenge page here.
Interested in nature based resources to help engage children – then check out Catkin & co (online store with pick up also based near park!)
We are looking for someone to join our team and lead some weekend/evening wildlife area volunteer sessions:
Job Title: Wildlife Area Volunteer Lead (Freelance) Location: Rowntree Park, York Hourly Rate: £14.50 per hour Approximate Monthly Hours: 7 hours (2-hour sessions held fortnightly, plus planning and prep time) Total: £1218 for around 12 months (tbd how time is used)
Who we Are: The Friends of Rowntree Park is a community-focused charity dedicated to enhancing and maintaining Rowntree Park in York. While the park is managed by the City of York Council, our charity plays an integral role in ensuring its continued care through volunteer-driven initiatives. We promote physical, mental, and social wellbeing through a wide range of activities such as gardening, conservation, and community events. We are currently expanding our volunteer base and are seeking a Wildlife Area Volunteer Lead to help us manage and grow our wildlife conservation project.
Role Overview: We are looking for a passionate, nature-loving individual to lead volunteer sessions at our Wildlife Area. This role involves overseeing tasks and activities focused on enhancing the biodiversity and natural habitat of the park. The ideal candidate will have an interest in nature, gardening, and conservation, along with experience or a willingness to lead a group of volunteers. The role requires someone good at managing people and projects, a good understanding of health and safety practices, as well as some basic knowledge of gardening and biodiversity.
Key Responsibilities:
Lead Volunteer Sessions: Organise and lead approximately 2-hour sessions running fortnightly in the Wildlife Area, with some flexibility depending on the season etc. This would usually be at weekends with some ocassional week evening sessions (some flexibility).
Project Planning: Continue to plan and develop the ongoing wildlife conservation project, including the management of the hedge, pond and bog garden, orchard, meadow grasses, wildflower meadow, and other habitats.
Task Management: Supervise and support volunteers during sessions, ensuring tasks are carried out effectively and safely.
Health and Safety: Ensure all health and safety guidelines are followed during volunteer sessions.
Team Coordination: Help build and maintain a strong, engaged team of volunteers, providing direction and motivation.
Preparation and Reporting: Plan, prepare, and review activities in advance of each session, and report on progress to the relevant Friends of Rowntree Park leads.
Skills and experience:
Strong interest in nature conservation, gardening, and biodiversity.
Previous experience in leading or supervising groups, especially volunteers is useful.
Basic knowledge of gardening and wildlife-friendly practices.
Understanding of health and safety requirements for outdoor volunteer activities.
Ability to motivate and inspire volunteers to achieve project goals.
Good communication and organisational skills.
Desirable:
Knowledge of local flora and fauna, particularly in relation to wildlife areas and habitat restoration.
Experience in project management and volunteer coordination.
Additional Information:
The Wildlife Area is located at the back of the recreation field near the Butcher Terrace/Millennium Gates of Rowntree Park, York.
The role is freelance, with an approximate commitment of 7 hours per month.
If you are passionate about nature and wildlife conservation and enjoy working with a team of volunteers, we would love to hear from you!
How to Apply: Please send your CV and a brief cover letter, no longer than 2 sides of A4 explaining why you are interested in this role and your relevant experience to Abigail Gaines, Charity Manager, – hello@rowntreepark.org.uk
Organisation: Friends of Rowntree Park Location: Remote (with occasional on-site work at Rowntree Park, York) Hours: Around 7 hours a week – with flexibility across 48 weeks Salary: £14.50 p/h (total £4823 for the year*) Contract Duration: 1 year (grant-funded)
*There may be the opportunity to add to this for those able to take on design and social media elements linked to the role as well. The 7 hours a week is an approximate and this may include more or less some weeks.
About Us
The Friends of Rowntree Park is a small community-focused charity dedicated to maintaining and enhancing Rowntree Park in York. While the park is managed by the City of York Council, budget cuts have necessitated our charity’s increased involvement. We provide volunteer opportunities that not only improve the park’s physical space but also promote physical, mental and social wellbeing across diverse groups in the community. Volunteer opportunities include things such as gardening, conservation, litter picking, and running or helping with community events and projects. We are a small charity that has a big impact.
To grow and sustain our efforts, we are recruiting a Volunteer Engagement Officer (VEO) to strengthen our volunteer programme, attract volunteers from diverse backgrounds and build deeper community partnerships. This pivotal role will ensure that more people can benefit from the opportunities and improved wellbeing that come from participating in and enjoying Rowntree Park.
Role Purpose
The Volunteer Engagement Officer will focus on:
Recruitment and retention: Expanding our volunteer base by reaching diverse individuals and groups and maintaining a supportive, engaging experience for all volunteers.
Monitoring and evaluation: Developing systems to track volunteer impact and programme outcomes, ensuring continuous improvement.
Community partnerships: Building strong relationships with local organisations, schools and businesses to grow and sustain volunteer participation.
Key Responsibilities
Recruitment and Retention
Advertise volunteer opportunities through citywide platforms, local organisations and targeted outreach.
Review and improve recruitment and retention strategies to meet the charity’s objectives.
Act as the first point of contact for new volunteers, including liaising with social prescribing leads and welcoming specific groups.
Support volunteer leaders with clear communication, advertising opportunities and providing ongoing communication.
Maintain an up-to-date volunteer database, tracking inductions, contact details and compliance with policies.
Celebrate volunteering efforts by sharing photographs and success stories with the Charity Manager for social media and newsletters. Also planning additional ways to celebrate volunteer efforts.
Monitoring and Evaluation
Conduct periodic surveys, gather oral feedback and collect photographic evidence to assess programme effectiveness.
Track volunteer hours and contributions, coordinating with volunteer leads.
Prepare reports, case studies and impact data to showcase the programme’s benefits and outcomes.
Community Partnerships
Build relationships with local charities, schools and organisations to encourage workplace and group volunteering.
Coordinate with the City of York Council’s ECO Team and York Cares for collaborative initiatives.
Other Duties
Assist with grant applications, reviews and monitoring as required.
Facilitate new volunteer-led projects and initiatives.
About You
This role would suit someone…
Skills and Experience
Experience in volunteer coordination, community engagement, or a similar role is useful though not essential if you can demonstrate transferable skills.
Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships and work collaboratively with diverse groups.
Excellent organisational skills, with experience managing databases, scheduling and record-keeping.
Competence in using social media and other communication tools to promote activities and opportunities.
Confidence in presenting ideas and engaging with stakeholders, including volunteers, community groups and organisations.
An understanding of the benefits of volunteering for individuals and communities, and a commitment to promoting inclusivity.
Desirable
Experience with grant applications and reporting.
Design skills for creating social media assets and posters.
Knowledge of green social prescribing.
Familiarity with the York area and its community networks.
Working Environment
This is a home-based role with flexibility in working hours. Occasional on-site work outdoor at Rowntree Park or attendance at meetings may be required. You would need to have access to your own computer.
How to Apply
Please send your CV and/or a cover letter (no more than 2 A4 sides) outlining your suitability for the role to the Charity Manager, Abigail Gaines, via email: hello@rowntreepark.org.uk by 24th of February 2025. Please do not hesitate to get in contact with any queries before applying.
This post is subject to receipt of two satisfactory references. Please note, this job description is subject to change. With any significant change, we will ensure this is discussed with you before any final approvals and or commitments.
Get involved in a new exhibition exploring teenage girls’ experiences of parks (and public spaces).
Park design, including facilities, can affect women and girls’ use of public spaces – it can either enhance or limit the freedom these spaces should provide. Similarly how other people see and use spaces can impact on whether girls feel welcome (including feeling safe). Through creative responses we can share experiences, ideas and start to imagine solutions on how these spaces could be transformed to become more inclusive
Research shows girls’ presence in parks declines sharply in teenage years, compared to boys, and patterns set in these years can affect later life. Use of parks can benefit physical and mental health and wellbeing – so creating welcoming inclusive parks is important.
The new exhibition is part of the ongoing Make Space York project and invites people to help raise awareness and share lived experiences in creative ways to engage the audience and invite them to question the status quo.
Opportunities for teenage girls to get involved:
Creative submissions for the exhibition are open to all ages from age 11 upwards and more information can be found here.
In addition, we have two workshop sessions in February half term where girls can get involved and contribute toward the exhibition.
Art workshop: Chains
Thursday 20th February 2-4pm York Explore Cafe – Rowntree Park Book places in advance – free to attend
Join illustrator Lucy Monkman for an art workshop creating self portraits that will be used in a collective piece.
While metal chains have traditionally been used to restrain, paper chains have been used to celebrate. For Illustrator Lucy Monkman chains seemed to be a fitting symbol for the Make Space campaign as they represent the feeling of being limited but also that collective action and joining together can create change.
The session will include drawing representation of themselves on paper, a self portrait,that will be joined together to contribute to a chain.
The session is free to attend but places must be booked in advance due to limited space. Book here.
Photography session: Life through a Lens
Friday 21st February (select time between 1-4pm) Rowntree Park Register in advance – free to attend.
Photographic portraits of teenage girls in parks will be part of our upcoming exhibition. We are inviting teenage girls to have their photo taken by professional photographer Bec Hudson-Smith. A photographic portrait of each girl will be created and they will have the opportunity to answer some questions linked to parks and their experiences. The aim is for the image and words to go alongside each other as part of the exhibition.
Although some teenage girls may not be initially keen on the idea of having their photograph taken – the images will help convey a powerful message and share their thoughts and feelings, it will help their voices be heard.
The session will run between 1-4pm in Rowntree Park, but only take around 15-20 minutes per girl. If your child is interested in being involved on this date (or in the future) – please complete this form to register interest.
If you can’t attend the workshop but want to contribute to the chain – details will be shared via the Make Space York mailing list on how you can do this.
Get involved in a new exhibition exploring teenage girls, and women’s experiences of parks (and public spaces).
Park design affects women and girls’ use of public spaces – it can either enhance or limit the freedom these spaces should provide. Research shows girls’ presence in parks declines sharply in teenage years – and patterns set in these years can affect how women use and feel in the public space.
The new exhibition is part of the ongoing Make Space York project and invites creatives to help raise awareness and share lived experiences in creative ways to engage the audience and invite them to question the status quo. Only by realising the issues can we work towards the solutions of more inclusive parks and public spaces.
The exhibition aims to be a combination of sharing information and creative pieces. The exhibition sets out to raise awareness of the issue in general, the project (and what’s been achieved so far) and start to imagine solutions on how these spaces could be transformed to become more inclusive.
Deadline for entries is April 30th 2025 Digital art/copies can be emailed to Makespaceyork@gmail.com If you are submitting an original piece, please contact me before 30th April to arrange to drop off the piece at a house near Rowntree Park (or post).
Background summary
The ‘Make Space’ project has been running since 2022, originating in Rowntree Park, and has included a range of engagement and co-design with local teenage girls. This has led to both the installation of equipment teenage girls asked for in the park and also the ’Make Space’ Festival that has run in June for the last two years. The project continues to evolve but the key focus is on raising awareness of the issue that girls’ use of parks drops, compared to boys, as they enter their teenage years and taking steps to create more welcoming parks.
Parks have huge benefits for physical and mental health and wellbeing, but teenage girls are being actively designed out of parks. Not feeling welcome in parks can affect how girls feel in other public spaces, and patterns set in teenage years can affect later life. It’s important that all girls, and therefore women, feel welcome in the public spaces and design considers their wants and needs. You can read more about why the project is needed and what’s happened so far here.
Exhibition project
I’m looking for both creative pieces for the exhibition and also those who’d like to be involved in some way in the project team to make this happen. Opportunities are open to girls and women of all ages to get involved (from age 11- 111!)
Creative responses are invited including photography, poetry, zines, theatre, music, dance, film, banner creation – other suggestions are welcomed. The majority of the exhibition will be outdoors so a discussion of your preferred media and practicalities may be needed.
Some suggestions of themes of work include those below – others are welcomed: -Raising awareness of the issue of teenage girls and parks in general -Reasons WHY teenage girls, and women, may not feel welcome in parks and public spaces (welcome includes ‘safety’). -Lived experiences of issues with parks and public spaces -Positive experiences of parks for teenage girls, and women -Design ideas for more welcoming parks for teenage girls/women
The exhibition will be on display in Spark (City of York centre) from 23rd-25th of May 2025, and some parts also displayed outdoors in Rowntree Park as part of the Festival of Ideas at the end of May. Creative pieces are to be submitted by April 30th 2025 (see above for details).
Some ideas for ways teenage girls could get involved/ideas to submit can be found here
The Make Space York project is run by myself, Abigail Gaines. It started as a passion project and I don’t have a team, but have had some people volunteer from time to time. Due to the grassroots nature of this project, there is only limited funding that will be used towards display materials/printing needed for the exhibition and there would not be payment for those involved. Therefore creative entrees are invited from those who are passionate about the project and are in a position to be able to offer their time and skills on a volunteer basis. I’m aware ‘exposure’ doesn’t always pay the bills, but if you are able to be involved on a voluntary basis then I’d love to hear from you.
How to get involved?
Creatives – Express interest using this form and I’ll drop you a line. Project Team – Read more here and get in touch
Some ideas to help teenage girls get involved can be found here.
You can read more about the overall project here. I’m always looking for people to get involved in the various elements of the project and would love people to help take the project on and see where it can go! (a) The exhibition (b) The Make Space Festival June 2025 (c) Ongoing engagement and research
I started the Make Space (for girls) project in 2022 as a passion project, I didn’t know where it would go and the project continues to evolve. It started with research and engagement with local girls, and together we co created designs and ideas to create a more welcoming Rowntree Park. I have been fortunate to achieve some funding for the festival in 2025 and a patchwork of grants that helped get equipment to start the creation of an area for teenage girls (we want to continue to grow this and get more!)
One of my roles in life (I have many) is as the charity manager for the Friends of Rowntree Park, and as of March 2024 I also work freelance for the national charity ‘Make Space for Girls’ mainly doing their social media and engagement sessions with teenage girls across the country. I have a keen interest and passion for co-creating with young people and gender inclusive design (and inclusive design in general). My background is secondary school and sixth form leadership and I am a parent of a teenage girl, and boy.
Parks need to be a place where older girls, and women, feel ‘welcome’ and are empowered them to be themselves.
The ‘Make Space’ for Girls York project focuses on reducing the drop off of park use as girls enter their teenage years. Parks have numerous benefits for physical and mental health and it’s so important that girls’, and women, are able to access and make the most of the opportunities parks offer.
Be part of the ‘Make Space’ York Festival 2025
The call out for events to be involved in the June festival has been launched! -Run an event or activity -Run a stall -Be part of the project team and help make things happen!
Events – Sports & exercise, the ‘arts’, nature based or basically any event/activity that could work in a park – I’d love to hear from you!
In June 2023 the first ever ‘Make Space’ (for Girls) programme of events and activities ran in Rowntree Park and the festival ran again in 2024, including events being hosted in Homestead Park too! The focus is on getting teen girls into the park and trying new things, meeting new people, and feeling empowered in the public space – trying to address the drop off of park use as girls enter their teenage years. Each year around 350 girls are involved with amazing feedback. The project won a national award from Green Flag for the ‘Best initiative in the UK to increase use of parks by women and girls’ in 2023.
I’m looking for facilitators to run events in June 2025. This year the festival will focus on two weekends and two parks. Each weekend will be packed full of events and activities to encourage lots of girls into the parks and create a real buzz! Provisional dates are: 14th & 15th of June (and maybe the evening of 13th) – Rowntree Park 21st & 22nd June – Homestead Park
In addition to events, there is the potential for info/awareness stalls (and/or with drop in activities) and food stalls.
You can find out more about the Make Space Festival 2025 and sign up to express interest in being involved (running an event) below. Please read the info before signing up!
As it stands, as girls enter their teen years, their use of parks decreases. At a time when they should be gaining more independence, many state they don’t feel ‘welcome’ in parks and there is nothing for them. Facilities councils build for ‘older children’ tend to be BMX tracks, Skateparks, Multi Use Games Areas and Basketball courts – areas that end up dominated by boys. As a result of community engagement the idea of a special programme of events for teen girls was piloted in Rowntree Park to great success in 2023 and ran again in 2024 including additional parks.
You can find out more about the project in general using the links below: Overview of the Make Space – Older Girls and Rowntree Park project The Make Space for Girls Festival 2024 blog
Wassailing has ancient roots in Britain, but in the 21st century it’s fun to learn about this tradition and create our own version of this old custom. Therefore on Saturday 31st of January we are holding our own Wassail in Rowntree Park.
We held our first Rowntree Park Wassail in 2023. We aren’t wassailing ‘experts’, or pagans, but we want to embrace some of this tradition, that is linked to celebrating nature, whilst having a good time with the local community and creating our own ‘traditions’!
Wassailing is all about celebrating apple trees and encouraging good future harvest. People go to the fruit trees to wish them health, make lots of noise, and give offerings in the form of food and drink. We have a 12 tree orchard in the Rowntree Park Wildlife Area – perfect for celebrating! We ‘pick and choose’ from traditions to create our own.
Details on our event below and more on ‘Wassailing’ in general below that – read on…
Wassail Family event on Saturday 31st January 1.30pm-3.30pm
You can book places on our children’s activities – aimed at families with children approximately 2-12 years old and will include the following lasting around 1 hour. The story telling – the folktale of the Appleman, finding more about Wassailing and crafts to prepare for the main wassail that include: –Creating noisemakers -Making nature headbands/headwear to wear for the event. -Creating our own ‘tree thanks’ and poems to say to the apple trees
We will then gather and be joined by some morris dancers who will perofrm for us – and pergaps you can join in! We will then lead a nosiy procession to the orchard in the park (not far) making a lot of noise – using our noise makers! At the orchard we will ‘wassail’. The wassail includes noise making and banging sticks on the ground – what’s not to like for children? We also give ‘offerings’ to the trees and you can try ‘Wassail’ drink
Costume, or touches of, are welcomed but Please dress for the weather and make sure you are warm! You are welcome to wear costume but most importantly, dress for the winter weather! More on this below.
Book places using the link below (ticket per child – adult/carer does not need a ticket). £5 FRP members and £7 non members. Places are limited. Book here
What is Wassailing
There are some different definitions of Wassailing, but the one we are talking about here is ‘orchard wassailing’. A Wassail is the process of waking the fruit trees from their winter slumber and warding off evil spirits to help make sure of a successful harvest later in the year. It’s also about starting to return to ‘normality’ after the dark midwinter period.
The Term Wassail’ is said to come from the old English ‘ves heil’ which is a toast to your good health (be healthy). Wassailing originated as a Pagan tradition, but has evolved. No two wassails are the same. All over England there is some variety and difference in the Wassails, but the general purpose remains the same. (Pronounce: Woh-Sa-Ling)
Wassailing is an old twelfth night tradition. Twelfth night is either the 5th of January, or if going by the old Gregorian calendar – 17th of January. However, today, Wassails tend to be held throughout January/early February. Before industrial times, the festive period was different to what we celebrate now. Advent was a time of fasting, was observed from the 1st to the 24th of December. Christmas would then last 12 days, ending with feasting and revels on the 5th of January – with wassailing a key part of the celebrations.
A wassail typically includes a visit to an orchard/local fruit trees. Some of the following may take place:
A procession to get there and lots of singing of Wassail songs/chants and noise making.
The procession may be led by a Wassail king and queen and the commotion is created by banging pots and pans, as well as shouting/singing, whistles and anything that makes noise!
Some people dress up – this sometimes includes a use of nature, but also some as spirits or other things (more on this below).
A warm spiced cider drink is also involved (recipes vary) – usually carried in a Wassail bowl and later shared out.
Once at the fruit trees, you start with the oldest tree. Surrounding the tree some ‘wake up’ chants may be said as well as some praise for the tree (some like to bow to the tree). The custom continues by using large sticks to beat the trunk and the ground around the tree – this is the process of awakening the tree. Then lots of noise making again!
It may be that a small child is lifted to add an ‘offering’ to the tree such as bread or cheese. This is followed by pieces of toasted bread soaked in the wassail drink and then stuck on branches of the tree and left there.
Some of the drink is then poured on the roots of the tree (and may be drunk by the people involved too!) The toast is thought to encourage ’good spirits’ such as Robins – basically the birds will be pretty happy!
You can then go and make noise and offerings to the other trees in the orchard too, and then have a warm drink!
In some places there is music, Morris dancing and bonfires too.
Costumes
Wassailing can involve a variety of costume. However, what is most important for our Wassail is that you are dressed for the weather and are nice and warm! No costume is expected, but if people wish to dress up or add a ‘touch’ to their outfit, please do!
A Twelfth night tradition is ‘mumming’ which usually means wearing outlandish costume made of rags or foliage usually. Mumming involved a group of friends or family who dress in disguise and visit homes within their community during the twelve days of Christmas. If welcomed into a house, they often did a variety of informal performances that may include dance, music, jokes, or recitations. The hosts had to guess who they were behind the costumes.
For our Wassail, you are welcome to opt to ‘dress up’. This could include a mediaeval look, elements of the green man, apple man, sun god or any other spirit (use of nature in costumes). Dress anything apple themed, or a robin, green face paint or even dress in a superhero costume – anything works!
Banners and flags
If we get time, we will make banners for the procession BUT it’s also something you may want to do at home before the event – maybe a flag of an apple or the word ‘Wassail’. It’s all lots of fun!
Further information
This is a fun low key community event organised by volunteers. The focus is on bringing people together, the sharing of a tradition, and also highlighting the orchard in our wildlife area of the park that our volunteers care for.
You are responsible for yourself, and children, during this event. As sticks are involved – please be aware of other people when waving or bashing! Our ‘Wassail drink’ will be non-alcoholic due to children being involved. You are welcome to bring your own flasks if you prefer to make your own Wassail drink! Please note that the park closes at 4pm in winter.
Children’s event – bring sticks, pans, a plastic bottle- and if possible a torch!
Other types of Wassailing
Another form the wassailing tradition took involved groups of revellers going from house to house to drink toasts and wish good health for the year ahead on the dwellers within. Indeed, the word ‘wassail’ is believed to be derived from the Old English ‘was hál’, meaning ‘be hale’ or ‘good health’.
We also welcome suggestions and ideas for our wassail – be it this one or future ones. we want to create our own traditions – so if you have ideas and/or want to get involved then get in touch! hello@rowntreeparkorg.uk
Things highlighted (considered noteworthy): and things to consider:
Those here are a combination of responses and the things highlighted most:
Children’s events are great as creates community and engaging children with nature
Gardening
Council liaison/holding them accountable
Make Space for Girls Project – creating safe spaces
Getting rid of geese
Creating a wildlife haven and conservation
Possibly planting more trees
Preserving the park for future generations
Projects like art and events
Continuing to make this a lovely community space through gardening and events
Pond health needs looking at
Fundraising to and assets council can’t afford
Adapting to climate change/mitigation
Lodge as a community space
If the FRP had more funds and capacity – what would you like them to develop/focus on:
Get rid of geese
Clear up the lake
Zero waste sessions for children
Food growing
Weekend events for adults who work in the week
More nature based crafts like the woodwork, willow and foraging
More music events
Children’s skate sessions
More plant diversity
Improved toilets (NB: This is aCYC responsibility)
More pond dipping
An orchard (NB: we actually have one!)
More things like Forest School and all the children’s events linked to nature and the seasons/traditional festivals
Community sessions for wildlife area and ponds
Covered picnic table areas
A park keeper!
Propagation of plants and selling to raise funds
More regular kids clubs
Additional comments:
I think you are unrecognised heroes. It’s a considerable enterprise now with a lot of background challenges and hard slog eg making sure you have the right policies in place and are practising them, for instance.
I think you are unrecognised heroes. It’s a considerable enterprise now with a lot of background challenges and hard slog eg making sure you have the right policies in place and are practising them, for instance.
Push for more regular hedge/ bush trimming to prevent areas getting badly overgrown.
Would maybe pay more membership if park was cleared of goose droppings
The goose poo is a barrier to us enjoying our time round the pond with our small grandchildren
I know it’s not your responsibility but I think the only thing about the park that lets it down is the toilet block on the river path side – it doesn’t feel very clean or well looked after. I only use it as a last resort. I realise that’s the council’s responsibility though. I wonder if they could be encouraged to improve the facilities.
Some of the lovely comments:
There are many varied events in the park. Thank you.
I appreciate all of the hard work to keep the park vibrant and somewhere people enjoy visiting.
Take care not to overdo things – a beautifully kept, peaceful park in which to relax is enough
Appreciate the effort and support offered along with a variety of activities.
I think the Friends of Rowntree Park do an excellent job in maintaining the park, organising activities for the community, and keeping members informed
I think the friends do an amazing job with limited funds and resources!
You are all super ace and do a wonderful job – thank you very much x
Note: Most respondents were clear on what the FRP responsibilities are – though there were some misunderstandings by some such as maintaining/clearing playgrounds, not aware we have an orchard, toilet responsibility, that food growing isn’t suited to a park that floods, opportunities to get involved in wildlife/conservation work.
Although the ‘Make Space for Girls’ York Festival was through the whole of June 2024, some free events and activities continued through the summer holidays with thanks to funding from the Fishergate Ward and Fulford and Heslington Wards. Local councillors saw the value of getting teenage girls into parks and open spaces and positive impact it has on them, and society, and were able to fund a session a week through the summer holidays.
We had some Woodland hang outs that included creating natural beads and jewellery, nature printing, autumn wreath creation, foraged herbal teas and lots of hammock and tree climbing. In addition, we had some art sessions, musical theatre and also Tik Tok Dance.
Thanks to all who came along, all the sessions were full and it was great to see some many girls having fun in the public space.
Last two dance photos courtesy of Ruth Hirst Photography
The lake in Rowntree Park is both a vital part of the flood defences and also part of the eco system, attracting a range of wildlife. However, a combination of debris from floods, stagnant areas, goose poo build up and generally not being adequately maintained for a number of years – led to a bit of an unsightly state earlier this summer. The lakes are part of the council’s responsibilities, though the Friends of Rowntree park often have them on thew agenda for discussions at meetings.
Back in early June, Abigail (FRP Charity Manager) and Stu (FRP Gardening Lead) met with Ed Bland, Operation’s Manager from York Council, to discuss the state of the lakes in Rowntree Park and possible solutions to improve the area. We are pleased that in mid August the council started taking some action aiming to improve the lakes. This work has included removing some debris and weed from the lake and has focused on just one side of the lake at present.
The lake reached a ‘state’ in summer because of a number of ongoing factors stated below. This information is from the council:
The council dropped the lake level 10 cm; to allow the installation of new gullies at the play area end of the lake to help our winter flooding problem. This keeps the play area usable throughout the year. This exposed a fair bit of silt and mud at that end, which has a green film on it. There was a lot of of pond weed on the lake and this is in part due to the build-up of nutrient from years from goose poo. The lake has always had some degree of weed build in the summer as there is no freshwater flow. Therefore a shallow lake, combined with warm temperatures and nutrients has led to the situation. In addition, flooding and general windfall brings debris to the lake. The short term solution was for the council to bring in a digger and remove some of the mud and debris. Normal rainfall will lead the lake to get back to its usual level after levels being dropped purposefully. Longer term solutions include annual removing silt/debris build up, looking at drainage systems, and utilising expert advise. It is possible the second half of the lake may be cleared in Autumn if there is council capacity.
The lake remains a council responsibility and the FRP don’t have the capacity and resources to take responsibility for this area. However, if there are volunteers interested in the lake in general, we’d be happy to form a sub group – this may include researching ways to improve the lake and working with the council on actions. Contact Abigail at hello@rowntreepark.org.uk
