Rising waters | Rooted solutions
How York’s schools are shaping the York’s rivers trail
Teachers have started identifying what pupils need to learn about York’s rivers, the wider catchments and natural flood management. Their ideas will guide the learning resources and more...
York’s schools are shaping the York rivers trail through workshops, curriculum planning and early design ideas focused on natural flood management (NFM), river heritage and climate resilience. This work began with a call to all schools at the end of the last academic year and has now moved into active co-design following our November workshop at Homestead Park.
What progress schools have made on the York rivers trail
Teachers have started identifying what pupils need to learn about York’s rivers, the wider catchments and natural flood management. Their ideas will guide the learning resources, artist residencies and trail features along the riverside route along the Ouse.
They are shaping:
- the knowledge pupils need about land, water and climate
- the creative approaches pupils might use to tell river stories
- how the York rivers trail can support curriculum plans across subjects
This is the first time schools have helped define an interpretation route linked to climate adaptation and flood resilience in York.
How we began
We launched a citywide invitation to participate in a creative learning programme linked to the York River Trail, led by our engagement partners, Innovate Educate Ltd. The invitation included planning support, expert input, funded workshops and artist residencies. The aim is to help schools explore rivers, climate change and the upstream-downstream connection.
The programme places nature-based solutions, including NFM, at its centre, introducing pupils to how land, soil and vegetation can slow and store water before it reaches York.
What happened at the November workshop
Teachers met with
- an upstream land manager who explained how farming choices influence water movement into the Ouse
- St Nicks, who shared insight on river wildlife and nature recovery
- York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, who outlined the wider role of nature in the region’s climate strategy
Working in small groups, teachers discussed how to translate these three experts' perspectives into clear learning outcomes and activities. The teachers considered what pupils need to understand about river processes, land use and flood resilience. Artist-scribe, Stephen Lee Hodgkins, captures these discussions visually, helping identify themes that will feed directly into the York rivers trail content.
This session gave us:
- confirmation that schools want place-based learning linked to York’s rivers
- early ideas for cross-curricular activities
- clarity on the curriculum support teachers will need next year
A short update featured in City of York Council’s Families newsletter, encouraging more schools to join.
What next
The next workshop, held with The Artery, will refine how artists enhance curriculum materials and how trail features along the York rivers trail link back to classroom learning. This includes:
- early thinking on viewpoints and themed interpretation points
- how pupils might influence the stories shared at each location
- where examples of NFM could appear on the trail
Artists have also proposed themed frames, sculptures or viewpoints along the river, helping visitors notice wildlife, historic flood management and the connection between natural and engineered defences.
The outputs schools will help shape
Teachers are already influencing key parts of the project
- a pilot schools programme with four schools including art residencies, CPD and teaching and learning materials
- interpretation points along York rivers trail featuring boards, benches, Hello Lamp Post interactions and QR-enabled content
- learning activities that explain NFM and the upstream-downstream link in simple, creative ways
This follows the progress set out in our previous blog about working with residents, visitors and partners to shape the trail. Schools add a crucial learning dimension.
How to get involved
The schools programme remains open. Over the next months, art, installations and trail features will continue to take shape, all helping to tell the story of York’s rivers and resilience. Keep following along - and add your voice - because the trail is set to open in summer 2026, ready for residents and visitors to explore, learn and be inspired.
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