This year the Tour de France is coming to York and we want to use this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to raise awareness of this precious amenity so it can continue to be enjoyed by even greater numbers in the future.
York's Greenway
York's Greenway - a network of traffic free routes for cyclists and walkers in and around the city - are important transport and leisure facilities but unlike the city’s highways and parks, their upkeep is not subsidised by the government or city council.
We rely largely on volunteer labour and charitable donations to maintain and enhance these routes.
Our Goals
*** Join in the 21 day Cultural Festival with a weekly event through June. Films, music, poetry, art, history and science will all feature along the Greenway from York to Riccall.
*** End the Festival with a free ‘On yer Bike’ festival of music to encourage the crowds that have just seen the Tour leave the city to get on their own bikes and enjoy a festival of music and food just a couple of miles from the Tour’s starting line.
*** Give the Greenway a major ‘make-over’, in particular University of York’s magical 10 –kilometre model of the Solar System – each planet to scale and at the appropriate distance from the Sun.
Biodiversity
York Greenway Champions is a partnership of Volunteer Sustrans Rangers and Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. This section of the National Cycle Network is a recognised ‘SINC’ a green corridor for the migration of wildlife and plant species. This is constantly threatened
by invasive species but £150 provides a day’s support for a team of volunteers with learning disabilities from Brunswick Organic Nurseries to combat this menace.
Makeover
£50 provides Personal Protective Equipment, facilities, transport and refreshment for a volunteer session to clean and re-paint the signs and artwork along the route.
Science and Astronomy
£700 is needed to match the funding raised by the University for the series of interactive educational activities along the path on 20th and 21st of June.
Music
£100 will pay expenses and fee for a top-rate local performer. £500 will ensure a good PA system and event facilities at Naburn Station Cafe.
Poetry
£20 would cover the framing of one of a number of selected poems for display along the track during the festival.
All of the above will ensure a great series of events through June and on the day of the Grand Depart itself. It will promote cycling as a leisure activity with all the associated health benefits.
And it will be great fun!
“Great though it is that the Tour is coming to Yorkshire it will be here and gone in 90 seconds. We are in this for the long term. We want to make the whole day memorable but we want to use it to engage many more people, whatever their age, in cycling
in a safe and attractive environment. And as they venture out from the city they will learn about and learn to value their local heritage and the ecology that underpins it.”
Additional Information
If you want to know more about this project, or about York Greenways work in general, please visit our website:
www.yorkgreenwaychampions.btck.co.uk
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