In time for Christmas…

Posted on 11/12/2025 by John Gray

We are pleased to announce that copies of South Bank’s community creative writing anthology How We Made It Through is available at Pextons Hardware on the Bishopthorpe Road parade of shops.

Thank you to the staff @pextonshardware for your support, it is so much appreciated.

The anthology is beautifully designed and printed, and makes a perfect gift for those locally and for friends and family. The poems, stories and illustrations make a great combination together.

For anyone who is looking for inspiration and hope in these times…

For anyone interested in reading about their own neighbourhood in York…

For anyone interested in how we can respond as a community to the challenges of climate and society…

Please take cash with you, as your donation won’t be put through Pextons’ electronic tills.

The cost is ‘Pay as you feel’ – browse through it, and judge how much you value it and what your circumstances say you can afford.

All donations go to Planet South Bank, to take forward our climate mitigation and adaptation work in the community.

We hope you enjoy reading it, and giving it as a gift too.

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A climate listening circle with a difference!

Posted on 06/11/2025 by cathmortimer

This time, we’re meeting at Tower Gardens (near the benches), and we’re going for a short walk. It’ll be at an easy pace on level ground, so that we can chat about our feelings about the climate, without getting breathless, and we’ll end up in a pub, to have a drink and carry on talking!

Time and Date: 7pm, Tuesday, 11th November 2025

It’s free! However, all the details are on the Eventbrite link is here and if you sign up on Eventbrite, we’ll know to expect you.

Everyone is welcome to join in.

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Launch and celebration event: How We Made It Through – and Climate Choir opportunity!

Posted on 24/10/2025 by John Gray

Planet South Bank is delighted to invite you to the launch this Tuesday evening, 28 October, of our community creative writing anthology, How We Made It Through.

For six months in 2024, local residents and those who love South Bank were invited to create visions of hope for the future – looking back from the future, to say ‘This is how we made it through’.

Launch and celebration of the anthology: Tuesday 28 October 2025, from 6.30 to 8.30pm, Friargate Quaker Meeting House, York. More details here: https://yorkenvironmentfestival.org.uk/event/how-we-made-it-through/

At the launch we’ll be sharing extracts from the anthology, sharing how we ran the project and how it can easily be replicated in any local community. Get your own copy, and share ideas for helping local communities work together in the face of current future challenges. There’ll even be short performances from a one-off climate choir – details below if you’d like to join in as a singer.

More about the project: Twenty people responded initially and once our programme of free workshops and online calls kicked off, more joined along the way. By the end of the project, we had received more than thirty individual entries, in media ranging from prose to poetry, and from collage to needle felt. The generous support of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Abundance Press pulled all of our work into a beautiful book, copies of which will be for a donation at the launch, and an electronic copy made available online.

Would you like to be in the climate choir during the evening? The inspirational Catherine Heinemeyer will be leading a group of singers as part of the event, in three short songs climate and hope. Singers are warmly welcome! There will be one rehearsal, this Sunday 26 October 2 to 5pm. Please email laura.bok@balliol.oxon.org to show your interest and so that we can send you details of the rehearsal.

This evet is part of York Environment Festival. Take part in their wonderful series of events, running from to 27 September to 2 November 2024. https://yorkenvironmentfestival.org.uk/events/

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Open Garden at the Nose: Sunday 19th October

Posted on 13/10/2025 by cathmortimer

Come and meet us at the Nose, this Sunday. There’ll be stalls and gardening. It’s free and suitable for all.

The Nose is the community garden at the pointy end of St Clement’s Church (Scarcroft Road, YO23 1NE).

This is part of the York Environment Festival 2025, which has all sorts of different events and activities. Check out the calendar on their website.

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Launch and celebration event: How We Made It Through – and Climate Choir opportunity!

Posted on 08/10/2025 by John Gray

Planet South Bank is delighted to invite you to the launch of our community creative writing anthology, How We Made It Through.

For six months in 2024, local residents and those who love South Bank were invited to create visions of hope for the future – looking back from the future, to say ‘This is how we made it through’.

Launch and celebration of the anthology: Tuesday 28 October 2025, from 6.30 to 8.30pm, Friargate Quaker Meeting House, York. More details here: https://yorkenvironmentfestival.org.uk/event/how-we-made-it-through/

At the launch we’ll be sharing extracts from the anthology, sharing how we ran the project and how it can easily be replicated in any local community. Get your own copy, and share ideas for helping local communities work together in the face of current future challenges. There’ll even be short performances from a one-off climate choir – details below if you’d like to join in as a singer.

More about the project: Twenty people responded initially and once our programme of free workshops and online calls kicked off, more joined along the way. By the end of the project, we had received more than thirty individual entries, in media ranging from prose to poetry, and from collage to needle felt. The generous support of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Abundance Press pulled all of our work into a beautiful book, copies of which will be for a donation at the launch, and an electronic copy made available online.

Would you like to be in the climate choir during the evening? The inspirational Catherine Heinemeyer will be leading a group of singers as part of the event, in three short songs climate and hope. Singers are warmly welcome! There will be one rehearsal, on Sunday 26 October 2 to 5pm (venue to be arranged). Please email laura.bok@balliol.oxon.org to show your interest and so that we can send you details of the rehearsal.

This evet is part of York Environment Festival. Take part in their wonderful series of events, running from to 27 September to 2 November 2024. https://yorkenvironmentfestival.org.uk/events/

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Our events this month

Posted on 06/10/2025 by cathmortimer

Firstly, thanks to everyone who took part in Street Recycle yesterday – especially whoever it was who took an ancient bike off my hands!

York Environment Festival is about halfway through, with events on nearly every day – check out the details here. We at Planet Southbank still have three more events.

This Thursday (October 9th), we’ll be supporting York’s Climate Listening Circle, which will meet at Patch (The Bonding Warehouse, 7-8.30). Everyone is welcome at this lovely, supportive meet-up.

And then on Sunday, 19th October (2-4), we have an Open Garden at the Nose. Come along to find out more about the garden. There may be a giant crafted worm to meet!

Lastly, on Tuesday 28th October, join us to celebrate our creative writing project ‘How We Made it Through’ at the Friargate Meeting House (6.30-8.30). Hear some readings from the collection and see the final product.

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Join the churches as they go litter-picking!

Posted on 30/09/2025 by cathmortimer

Here’s a lovely opportunity to get out and about with some litter pickers, and at the same time, potentially pick up some amazing bargains, at the Street re-Cycle! And with refreshments, afterwards! South Bank’s Sunday afternoons have never been so exciting.

You can sign up via the QR code, or use the link: https://brp.churchsuite.com/events/lrmh6fnx

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Reminder: it’s Street Recycle, this Sunday!

Posted on 29/09/2025 by cathmortimer

Don’t forget: it’s Street Recycle this Sunday, 5th October, from 12noon to 3pm.

Join in by browsing – see what’s available, in your neighbourhood! – or to sign up yourself, send your name, address and postcode (by Wednesday 1st!) to info@planetsouthbank.org.uk

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Foraging Walk this Sunday 28 September, 2 – 3.30pm

Posted on 24/09/2025 by PlanetSouthBank

A chance to learn about the edible plants available in York’s hedgerows and public spaces, led by local forager Carl Wain. Ideal for families, local residents and nature lovers.

Booking is required and can be done here. Places are limited to 25 people so that everyone has the opportunity to hear Carl and join in with the discussions.

There are just a few spaces remaining.

The walk is free and donations are welcomed when you book. Donations will shared between the Friends of Rowntree Park and Planet South Bank.

The event will start by the dovecot, near to the Rowntree Park Reading Café.

Organised as part of the wonderful York Environment Festival which begins this weekend – check out the schedule of this year’s events: https://yorkenvironmentfestival.org.uk/events/

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Clothes swap in South Bank

Posted on 11/09/2025 by cathmortimer

Hurray! Another recycling/upcycling event in South Bank!

Saturday, 27 September, 10-12. Southlands Methodist Church (97 Bishopthorpe Road, York YO23 1NX)

Refresh your wardrobe and reduce waste! Bring your clothing in good condition, and take home what you like. All ages, sizes, and styles welcome (please no swimwear or underwear). Plus, grab a cuppa (maybe cake?!) from the church’s regular Saturday coffee morning and stay for a chat. 

More details here – you don’t need to book a ticket though, just turn up!

Register on Eventbrite
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