York Bike Belles

NEW Nature Walk, Wheel and Cycle Maps, Audio Trail and eLearning course out soon!

In the meantime, do try one of our enjoyable Nature Wellbeing Calendar activities. Let nature help you feel better. 🙂

What is Take the Green Route?

Take the Green Route! is an original walking, wheeling and cycling nature project that started in 2024. We hope you’ll join us to enjoy all the benefits of a nature-friendly lifestyle! We’re offering inclusive group nature activities, wilder gardening on new Wilder Spaces, digital nature resources and a friendly online nature community.

In 2024/25, over 500 people joined in the fun, spending over 1500 hours outdoors in nature with us! 100% of those who responded to a survey said our activities had a positive impact on their wellbeing.

Lynda said “I just didn’t know I needed this” and describes the nature activities as “joy, pure and simple joy”. John told us “I enjoy learning about nature and meeting all the different people who come along.” Check out the Stats and Stories from those involved so far, and our Galleries of Top Moments from Summer 2024, Autumn 2024, Spring 2025 and Summer 2025. 🙂

We hope YOU will join us soon. To find out more about our 2026 nature activities, talk to us by email at takethegreenroute@gmail.com or call 07493 692490. Everyone is welcome!

If you can’t get to activities, you can still get involved through our online resources and community. Discover enjoyable ways to get your healthy ‘dose’ of nature in our Nature Wellbeing Calendars. Connect with us on Facebook, or join our friendly Nature WhatsApp Group by emailing takethegreenroute@gmail.com or texting 07493 692490.

Cycling Without Age Nature Rides

** Back in early 2026**

All ability Cycling Without Age Nature Rides on a Triobike Taxi or rickshaw from Cycle Heaven in Fulford.

Our supported rickshaw rides enable most people to fully enjoy nature outdoors, regardless of your age, ability or mobility level. Give it a go!

Nature Walks and Rides

** Back in early 2026**

Nature Walks and Rides during the week, and on some weekends. Relax in a friendly group, and explore nature along the riverside, through beautiful parks, meadows and woods.

Walks and Rides start from the middle of the Millennium Bridge. Just turn up for Walks. Booking needed for Rides.

Wilder Gardening

Wilder Gardening on our Wilder Spaces! Enjoy caring for nature in a friendly group, plus take Wilder Gardening skills and ideas home for your own outdoor space.

Easy gardening tasks for most ages and abilities. If you’d like more details, email takethegreenroute@gmail.com or call 07493 692490.

Joining Support

We offer free joining support for all ages and abilities. Everyone is welcome!

For example, if you need mobility support, we offer a dedicated passenger ride on our Cycling Without Age Triobikes. If you use wheels such as a wheelchair or mobility scooter to get around, we offer a level hard-surfaced route option on every activity.

Talk to us at takethegreenroute@gmail.com or 07493 692490. Please always call us if you have any questions on the day of the activity.

Activity Practicalities

General

At the start points or venues, just look out for the friendly people in purple York Bike Belles tops. 🙂

Our leisurely Nature Walks and Rides during the week go a short distance and will take around an hour. We walk and ride at an easy pace, with plenty of time to notice, enjoy, and talk about the natural world around us. There are benches and places to pause on all routes, and we take breaks when needed.

We hope you’ll join us regularly. Each week will be different as we explore together a interesting variety of nature-rich routes. Many may be new discoveries for you! Our selection of routes each week will depend on the weather, the group and what’s happening in the natural world that week.

If you are unsure about coming along on your own, why not bring a friend or family member? There’ll also be the chance to go to a nearby cafe for chat afterwards so you can get to know new people.

Please check the weather forecast beforehand and wear suitable clothing. Do not attend if you are unwell and bring any personal medication, snacks and drinks with you.

Finally, please travel to the start point by walking, cycling or public transport if you can. All start points are easily accessible by bus or bike, and there are toilets and cycle parking nearby.

Nature Walks

For a Walk, please wear walk and mud-friendly shoes. There will always be one hard-surfaced route available on a Wednesday walk.

Everyone is welcome on a Walk! In response to usual enquiries, this includes wheelchair users, mobility scooter users, dogs on leads and children accompanied by an adult.

Nature Rides

For a Ride, please bring a roadworthy bike and helmet. You will need to be able to ride for at least an hour at a steady pace. Because of our insurance, we need to ask all riders on led rides to wear a helmet. Please let us know in advance if you would like to borrow a helmet for the Ride.

What do you gain by joining Take the Green Route?

Anna always feels happier afterwards!

John uses the nature walks to switch off, reset and recharge.

Fran loves that the activities are for everyone.

Lynda describes the nature walks as “Joy, pure and simple joy.”

Ian told us the programme “gives me my life back!”

Len and Di said “We felt like the Queen!”

David said “It’s a bit like magic!”

Emma laughs “Now I’m the Head Gardener!”

Gill said “It’s been a transformative journey”

Elle finds the “Nature Rides have been my lifeline”

You’ll improve your health by being active outdoors in nature, meeting new people in small friendly groups and having fun! 🙂

And by tuning into nature, research shows you’ll improve your mental wellbeing. People who are more connected to nature are happier and more satisfied with life, with greater vitality, and feel their lives have greater meaning and purpose.

Research also shows that being outdoors and connecting with nature can help you relax, boost your immune system, reduce anxiety, stress, depression and reduce feelings of loneliness. Plus it can improve your mood, improve sleep quality, and help you gain a sense of peace. A wonder healer indeed!

You’ll also learn more about nature in some of the delightful green routes around York. You’ll develop useful skills in nature ID, citizen science, creativity and wildlife gardening. You’ll take away ideas on how to care for nature in your own outdoor space and help create wilder public spaces. And you’ll gain a real sense of satisfaction by doing something valuable with your time.

More about Take the Green Route!

Take the Green Route! is made possible with the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, this two-year project will support a wide range of local people to enjoy nature-friendly walking, wheeling and cycling lifestyles across York.

During this two-year project, you’ll meet, get to know and care for nature on your doorstep as you walk, wheel and ride on York’s Green Routes. You’ll enjoy learning new nature skills and knowledge on seasonal programmes of activities, including nature ID, photography, nature creativity and wildlife gardening.

In 2025, you can enjoy three seasonal Nature Programmes. The Spring Nature Programme starts on 18 March and runs for 8 weeks. The Summer Nature Programme starts on 24 June and also runs for 8 weeks. The Autumn Nature Programme starts on 1 October and runs for 4 weeks.

If you need mobility support, you can still join the outdoor nature activities through rides on our Cycling Without Age passenger Triobikes.

And you are in good hands! Our delivery team have been trained in Outdoor First Aid, Group Ride and Walk Leading, All-Ability Bike skills and Nature-based Wellbeing. This ensures our activities are an enjoyable, positive and safe experience for you.

York Bike Belles’ Programme Director, Sheridan Piggott, said: “We’re thrilled! Take the Green Route! has been developed over several years in consultation with local people and organisations.

“We’ll be offering you lots and lots of free, accessible nature walks, rides, creative workshops, wildlife gardening, socials, plus creating a new digital nature map, an audio trail and wilder spaces along green routes in York.

“We’re confident you’ll feel happier and healthier after getting closer to nature near where you live, whether through learning how to identify and photograph our brilliant local birds, discovering where to find the elusive tansy beetle, or developing skills in cultivating wildlife-friendly trees, plants and wildflowers in your neighbourhood.

“We hope you’ll join us on the journey!” 😊

Copyright 2025. Take the Green Route! is an original initiative, designed and delivered by York Bike Belles CIC, all rights reserved.

Can you help us?

York Bike Belles CIC is a not for profit charitable organisation. We rely on grants, donations, sponsorship and legacies to fund our work. Your donation will enable us to continue and sustain our work to support people and nature in York. Please donate here.