Skills and Learning Groups

Our ‘Skills and Learning Groups’ offer a chance for you to develop skills and boost your knowledge, whilst connecting with nature and others.

These groups run for a duration of 6-8 weeks (as well as additional one-off events or workshops), and you can attend one or two of these groups at a time.

See details on each group below and read a bit more about what to expect from nature-based groups (click here).

Time to Garden

Time to Garden is an 8-week skills-based seasonal gardening group based in our garden at St Nicks.

We will garden by following the seasons, learning skills relevant at that time of the year. We will take time to notice, appreciate and share in the beauty of the garden, working together, taking part in mindful gardening activities, enjoying the slow process of growing and reflecting on how we share the garden with wildlife and nature.

Current group:

Blooming Well (8 weeks) - Tuesdays, 10:30am-12:30pm, starting 9th June at St Nicks

Nurturing and appreciation in the garden. Focus on tomatoes, beans, salads and herbs and companion planting, enjoying some slow weeding, planting and mindful activities to encourage caring for the soil and plants and appreciating the summer garden.

Future groups:

  • Roots to Resilience (8 weeks) - date/time TBC, starting August 2026.
  • Autumn Abundance (8 weeks) - day/time TBC, running Autumn

Eco-Crafts

Eco-Crafts are 7-week skills-based courses, where we will learn sustainable crafting skills like upcycling and repurposing, altering and repairing or finding creative ways to recycle.

No previous experience is needed. For more experienced crafters, there will be opportunities to further advance your skills. 

Current group:

Upcycle! (7 weeks) - Wednesdays, 2-4pm, starting 10th June at St Nicks

Over 7-weeks, we’ll learn different methods of applique and embroidery and experiment with eco-sewing skills, like how to best utilise scrap fabric and making the most of the supplies you already have.

We’ll find inspiration in the natural world and use the skills we have learned to upcycle a pre-owned t-shirt or sweatshirt, giving something we already own a new lease of life!

Future groups:

  • TBC

Mindful Movement

Mindful Movement is a 6-week course to get active in the outdoors. Get moving to the sounds and sights of nature at St Nicks local nature reserve. With the support of an expert facilitator, you could practice skills in activities like yoga or tai chi - gain strength, better your balance and improve your health and wellbeing.   

Day/Time/Start date - TBC. Sessions running at St Nicks.

UnEarth Ecology

UnEarth Ecology is a 8-week ecology course. We will learn about a wide range of local wildlife, starting each session with a discussion about our chosen topic. We then head out onto the reserve for hands-on activities to record and learn about local species, for example, bumblebee surveys, bird territory mapping, and wildflower identification.  

8-weeks on Tuesdays, 10am-12pm, starting 30th June at St Nicks

Fork to Food

Fork to Food is a 4-week guided introduction to growing food in a small space, based at Holgate Allotment. Getting our hands dirty and our forks into the soil, we will prepare the ground, learn about how to sow seeds, grow plug plants and plant up a small space with delicious salads, herbs and greens. 

Fortnightly Thursdays, 2-4pm for 4 sessions, starting 11th June at Holgate Allotment.

Making Tracks

Making Tracks is a stepping stone group, supporting you to build confidence, knowledge and skills for practical conservation volunteering. 

Our Nature-Based Wellbeing team will be joining Green Corridors sessions – come along and join in with the help of a friendly and familiar face.  

Together, we will help to support the conservation work of St Nicks, across our Green Corridors sites in York, visiting different locations, meeting new people and improving our local wildlife habitats. Seasonal conservation skills may include coppicing, scything, planting and seed sowing. The sessions are flexible and no previous experience is necessary. 

Day/Time/Date- TBC. Sessions running at various locations.

What can I expect from Nature-Based Wellbeing groups?

We've put together some 'Frequently Asked Questions' to help you find out more on what to expect from group-based support at St Nicks, like what's included in the sessions (and what's not).

Read our Frequently Asked Questions

Goldfinch on teasel at St Nicks IMG_3733a