NEWS RELEASE
Our Heritage Guardian member, Yorkshire Rewilding Network, have provided this news:
The Yorkshire Rewilding Network (YRN) connects, inspires and enables rewilding across Yorkshire.
This summer the charity is holding the first Yorkshire Rewilding Festival to create an opportunity for a wider audience to explore rewilding through the arts, through debate and discussion, and through community gatherings.
There are a variety of events planned this summer, including: the creation of a live, collaborative artwork which reimagines a Yorkshire city with a wilder future; a day of learning and connection for rewilders; a specially commissioned story and musical performance set in beautiful woodland; and a day of wild family fun in a forest park.
Plus, the festival also goes out on tour, with Wild Workshops taking place in some of Yorkshire’s most inspiring rewilding sites. There really is something for everyone – Yorkshire is about to get very excited about rewilding!
FESTIVAL PROGRAMME
- Yorkshire Rewilding Festival kicks off in York on Tuesday 13th The opening event will be a collaboration with the York Festival of Ideas 2023 – Reimagining a Rewilded York; an evening of open discussion and artistic creation where a panel of experts encourage the audience to imagine how urban rewilding could transform York. Artist James McKay will interpret the ideas and suggestions, capturing them in a unique painting – an alternative future vision of the city.
- On Friday 23 June, in woodland north of Leeds at Farnley Hall the next Festival event, WildSong, explores rewilding through music and spoken word. This unique, intimate evening will start in a meadow, where participants can enjoy drinks before being led into the woods for a night of story and music. This event is supported with funding from Leeds Inspired, part of Leeds City Council.
- An inspiring and practical day connecting rewilders, Yorkshire Rewilders Day, follows at Farnley Hall on Saturday 24 June in partnership with nature charity, Wildlife Friendly Otley. This is a day for connection with fellow rewilders, to share knowledge and experience, inspire each other, and learn something new. There will be panel discussions, walks and activities (both creative and practical), and plenty of time to chat, ask questions and make new connections.
- And on Sunday 25 June, Yorkshire Rewilding Festival joins Otley Nature Network’s Chevin Discovery Day – a free, family-friendly event hosted by Friends of Chevin Forest Park. YRN will collaborate with SunUp Festival to provide an immersive workshop concentrating on our connection with nature. A local artist will encourage people of all ages to help ‘rewild’ and transform a blank piece of canvas into a wild and abundant landscape, and there will be an interactive ‘rewilding world’ specially designed to inspire young minds and hands!
- Over the summer Yorkshire Rewilding Network will be taking the Festival on Tour with Wild Workshops at a range of rewilding sites They will be hosting workshops and activities from natural mindfulness and forest bathing to art and drawing, to forest school and family nature connection days.
TICKETS All Festival and Wild Workshops tickets can be booked via Eventbrite, here: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/yorkshire-rewilding-festival-2023-1884409
WHY A REWILDING FESTIVAL?
The idea of a ‘rewilding festival’ was born out of a belief that so much more is achieved with a message of hope, and that when you bring people together it creates a ‘buzz’ that builds positive momentum. YRN wanted to create new opportunities to explore rewilding through the arts, through debate and open discussion, and through community gatherings.
“We believe that looking at rewilding through different lenses can help to strengthen our connection with the natural world and our resolve to enable nature recovery. We also hope it makes for an interesting and joyful experience!” Samantha Mennell, Festival Director.
As described above, rather than organise one event on just one day or weekend, Yorkshire Rewilding Network is hosting a series of events over a few weeks in different venues, helping to reach a broader audience across the region.
For further information on all the events, go to https://www.yorkshirerewildingnetwork.org.uk/yrn-festival-2023/
KEY DETAILS
Tues 13 June 2023– Reimagining a Rewilded York at York Festival of Ideas. An informative, imaginative vision of the part York could play in the future of rewilding in Yorkshire.
Time: Doors Open at 6pm. Event 7pm – 9pm
Venue: St Saviourgate York, CMC, St Saviourgate, York, YO1 8NQ
Cost: Free, but booking essential,
