About Us

York Environment Forum is the voice for the environment in York, encompassing both the natural environment and the built environment.

The Environment Forum has been operating for many years and is one of the outside bodies that the City of York Council works in partnership with. Traditionally, the Forum has functioned as a ‘critical friend’ to the Council, commenting and writing reports on policies and strategies as they relate to York’s environment and, from time to time, highlighting on specific issues. The three councillors who are part of YEF are Chris Steward, Christian Vassie and Sarah Wilson.

Our aims and objectives are:

• to advise and comment on policies and strategic issues in York that affect the built and natural environment,
• to encourage community initiatives that improve sustainability,
• to enable information exchange and networking among members and supporters in York,
• to scrutinise and monitor the progress of the Local Plan.

We work closely with other organisations, such as Treemendous, active on the natural environment, And on transport we have a representative on York Civic Trust’s Transport Advisory Group.

In 2014 members of York Environment Forum elected to become a constituted organisation, enabling it to raise funds and do more effective and practical work. Information about membership and meetings and a link to our constitution can be found here.

The Forum is run by a management committee comprising the Chair, Treasurer, Membership Secretary and the Minutes Secretary.

The community banner for York Environment Forum, made jointly with BEAST from Bootham School, as part of the Dress to Impress initiative for the Tour de France