Opening the Outdoors: Share Your Voice, Shape the Change
Friends of MWN, HEY Smile Foundation are helping connect healthcare with outdoor and nature-based activities. Being outside – in parks, woods, rivers, or by the sea – boosts health and wellbeing. But not everyone can access these benefits, and they need your help to change that.
Please consider donating 10 minutes of your time to take their “Opening the Outdoors” survey! Complete it by Sunday 19th October to be in with a chance of winning a £50 Love2Shop voucher!
York Environment Festival ’25
The dates: Saturday 27 September – Sunday 2 November 2025
We’re excited to share news of York Environment Festival 2025, featuring over 60 free events that we think will be of great interest to MWN members. For full details you can check out their website!
You’ll find engaging talks and film screenings covering various environmental topics, alongside hands-on workshops where you can develop practical skills in gardening and foraging. For those who love exploring, there are guided walks showcasing York’s local environment, plus nature-inspired poetry and music events.
The festival celebrates the outstanding work of environmental groups, campaigners, businesses, universities, schools, and arts organizations throughout the York area.
This year’s theme is ‘hope through action‘, inspired by writer and activist Rebecca Solnit’s words: “hope calls for action; action is impossible without hope.” In these challenging times, the festival explores what it means to cultivate hope through practical action – from repair cafes and community workshops to local meet-ups where like-minded people can connect.
We those who might be interested in making the journey to York to explore the full programme. It’s a fantastic opportunity to see how other communities are tackling environmental challenges and to gain inspiration for our own local efforts.
Please note: This festival is organized by YEFest in York and is not affiliated with MWN, but we’re happy to share this inspiring example of community environmental action.
MWN Walking East Yorkshire – 14th September
The History and Natural History of Molescroft Parish a walk led by Molescroft Wildlife Network
Our community group of volunteers was formed in 2022 with the aim of restoring nature and its heritage in the parish. The walk will look at some of the history and wildlife of the ancient parish of Molescroft, now a suburb of Beverley. Included in the walk are a disused railway line, a historic footpath, a 19th century graveyard, the sites of two medieval manor houses and wildlife corridors well loved by locals.
Your guides will be Karyn and Helen. Start time: 3pm Meeting Point: Beverley Braves Club House, Molescroft Playing Field, Thurlow Avenue, Beverley. HU17 7QJ.
Booking is essential: via email please (between 1st and 12th September only) Molescroftwn@gmail.com
Cost: Free
Additional Information: Unpaved footpaths and may not be suitable for those with restricted manoeuvrability
For other walks in the series please see the guide!
MWN call for volunteers – Thursday 14th August
Molescroft Wildlife Network is arranging a working party to clear the vegetation at St Mary’s Graveyard on Thurs 14 Aug after it has been cut by ERYC.
This enables native flowers to thrive. We will rake the arisings, wheelbarrow them to a flatbed truck, and they will be taken to a local compost heap.
If you would like to come along and help, please send us an email as soon as possible, or by Friday 8 Aug, to Molescroftwn@gmail.com. This is so that we know how many people are coming to be able to borrow enough equipment and get enough fruitcake in.
Where are all the butterflies?
Yes, it’s that time of year again, it’s the Butterfly Conservation’s Big Butterfly Count!
It will be interesting to see the results of this, anecdotally from our wanderings around the Parish we think there might be more this year due to the successive summery heatwaves we’ve had (we’ve also seen a lot more ladybird sightings across the UK this year).
However, the 2024 results of the survey mean that a butterfly emergency was declared due to the dwindling number of these beautiful ecosystem indicators.
The count runs from the 18th July to 10th August, and for more information on how to take part, look at the BCBBC pages!
BTO Equipment Donation Scheme
Do you have a pair of binoculars you no longer use or a bird guide collecting dust? Donate them to the BTO Equipment Donation Scheme and help support the next generation of conservationists!
If you’re under 21 or represent a school or university group, you can apply to the BTO receive donated optics or identification guides.
For more information on the scheme check the BTO website.
MWN quoted in Country Life Magazine
A while ago, Karyn was interviewed for Country Life. The article has now appeared in press! “The life that thrives among the dead: How wildlife finds a home in the graveyards and churchyards of Britain”.
It’s a wonderful read, and it’s appeared online too, so see Karyn’s quote, and the work of MWN and our partners at St Mary’s Church, Caring for God’s Acre and the Parish Council in context!
Nature Friendly Farming Webinar – 22nd May
We wanted to share information about an upcoming webinar being organised by the Nature Friendly Farming Network (NFFN) as part of Nature Friendly Farming Week. This inspiring event will feature two remarkable farmers discussing how farming can work harmoniously with nature.
The webinar will showcase two farmers who are champions of nature-friendly agricultural practices:
- Ruth Ashton-Shaw from Low Auldgirth in Scotland – A former design consultant who transitioned to farming with no prior background. She now runs a 30-acre organic smallholding producing quality meat, eggs, and wool from native breeds.
- Debbie Wilkins from Norton Court Farm in Gloucester – A former food scientist at Unilever who returned to manage her family’s 950-acre mixed farm, focusing on soil health and biodiversity.
The event will be hosted by Martin Lines, CEO of the Nature Friendly Farming Network, who manages an arable farm in South Cambridgeshire. This webinar promises to be enlightening for food lovers, nature enthusiasts, and anyone curious about sustainable agriculture.
This event is organized by the Nature Friendly Farming Network. We are sharing this information as we believe it may interest our community, but we are not affiliated with the organisers.
Meet MWN at the Beverley Community Event!
Save the date – it’s Sunday 22nd of June 2025
If you’ve been curious about what we do and wanted to come along and chat to some of our members, please do! We’d love to meet anyone who is passionate about nature in the local area!
