Autumn Fayre 2023

This year's annual fundraiser will see a jam-packed afternoon celebrating local organisations and businesses who help make a difference for the planet, whilst enjoying nature's harvest. There'll be activities for all ages, everyone welcome!

*Check back for updates regarding activities and walks*

Free event, donations greatly appreciated to help St Nicks continue our work.

Autumn Fayre 2023 is sponsored by Latimer by Clarion Housing Group. Beer glasses kindly donated by York CAMRA

Community Stalls

• River Foss Society - Discover what macroinvertebrates live in our local beck
• Yorkshire Wildlife Trust
• Moonful - Discover the medicinal properties of plants, fungi and trees and the art of wild wine making
• York Community Energy - Running solar-powered beetle races
• SF Innovations - Make a solar-powered jam jar light and learn about haybox thermal cooking and solar power
• Sustrans - Find out more about York cycle routes and have a go at making a bicycle pencil pot.
• I Travel York - Discover more about local walks and cycle routes in York
• York Steiner School - Offering a range of eco-based crafts and activities for children and adults echoing the green ethos of York Steiner School
• Rotary York Ainsty - Bring your unwanted spectacles and children’s footwear to be given a second home. Enjoy Community games such as Splat the Rat and Hoopla
• Cooper King Distillery - Sample award winning sustainable spirits powered by 100% renewable energy
• Abundance York - Helping identify your apple varieties, bring you home produce and learn about the process of apple juicing
• Forest of Flowers - Selling organic seed, honey and plants from their 74-acre new woodland and wildflower meadows. Make your own seed balls! We'll have all the ingredients you need, including wildflower seeds from the Forest of Flowers meadows in Huby, York. You'll be able to take your seed balls home to create a vibrant wildflower habitat for pollinators.
• Fulford Community Orchard - Grab yourself some locally made preserves, jams and chutneys. 

Activities

There’ll be lots of activities running throughout the afternoon, some at set times so do check below. All activities are free, but we greatly appreciate donations to support St Nicks and the organisations involved, thank you.

 On the nature reserve

• Willow crown and beard making in the meadow, 1pm - 4pm. Why not have your photo taken in our willow heart frame afterwards?

• Foraging walk with local expert Carl Wain, 1.30pm – 2.30pm. Learn about the many species of fruit tree we have at St Nicks along with other edible plants.

• Golden Ball Qigong at the stone circle, hosted by mindfulness practitioner, Jude Robinson 2.30pm – 3pm. Join Jude for an introduction to meditative movement practice in a unique setting. We advise you wear loose clothing (please be aware this activity is weather dependent.)

• Nature trails & tales with Moonfull, 3pm – 4pm. Suitable for all the family learn about the wildlife, plants and fungi of St Nicks nature reserve through an interactive storytelling journey into nature.

• Mindfulness walk, 2.30pm – 3pm & 4pm- 4.30pm. Escape the hustle and bustle of the fayre with Ecotherapy mentor, Eleanor on an accessible mindful walk around the nature reserve. We will take a gentle walk around, paying close attention to what we can see and hear, enjoying the calm that this brings.

• Woodland activities for children (and big kids!) 1.30pm – 4.30pm. Green mentor, Freya will have various activities for you to try such as den building, hanging out in hammocks, playing on our rope swing, learning to start a fire, nature crafts and games.

At the environment centre

• Recycling games and challenges in the garden. Get hands on with games made by our recycling team and learn why separating your recycling is so important.
• Longest peel competition, 1pm – 4pm. Can you beat last year’s winning entry of 83.75 inches? Anyone can have a go with adult and under 16 categories.
• Apple pressing & identification with Abundance, 1pm – 4.30pm. Bring your home produce for juicing and identification.
• Tombola in the hall, lots of prizes to be won.
• Eco crafters stall. Find out how you can become an eco-crafter and purchase some home-made recycled items.

Live Music

There'll be live music in the meadow throughout the afternoon.

• Contemporary folk artist, David Breslin, 1.15pm - 2.15pm
• Local rock act The Ice-cream Sundaves, 2.30pm - 3.30pm
• Dan Webster and Emily Lawler, 3.45pm - 4.45pm

Food and Drink

Come and have a go at juicing your own apples at the Environment Centre. Enjoy some live music in the meadow with a beer from local brewery Ainsty Ales and gin from award winning Cooper King distillery. There'll be delicious homemade food from social enterprise Food Circle and mexican food trader Caravan Cuisine.

Hot drinks, cakes and treats available in the hall.

Parking

Parking at the centre will be reserved for blue badge holders only. Vehicle access to St Nicks carpark is only possible via Rawdon Avenue/Harrington. There is no vehicle access to or from Bull lane as this is a designated cycle path.

Street parking is available just a short walk from the centre. Please remember to park respectfully and not to block access to residents' driveways. Vehicles and possessions are left at the owner’s risk.

• Rawdon avenue
• Harrington avenue
• Melrosegate

We encourage all our visitors to come by foot, bicycle or bus whenever possible. We have bike storage facilities within the garden compound.

This event is part of a programme of events for York Environment Week 2023.