Nature festival invites Lancaster residents to explore city's beautiful greenspaces
The event is taking place during national Great Big Green Week...
A Lancaster festival is this week encouraging residents and visitors to connect with nature.
Wild Roots Nature Fest is being held for the second time across the district offering creative workshops, wildlife walks and wellbeing sessions.
The festival, taking place during national Great Big Green Week, is a celebration of the natural world and an invitation to explore the beautiful greenspaces in and around the city.
“By bringing people together in welcoming outdoor settings, the festival offers a space to reconnect with nature, ourselves and each other,” said founder Ros Jones.
The event encourages residents and visitors to explore local greenspaces and spend time in nature as an important part of maintaining good health and wellbeing.
Whether it’s a quiet moment in a local park, a walk through a woodland or taking part in a shared outdoor activity, connecting with the natural world can support both mental and physical health.
Wild Roots Nature Fest was founded to make nature-based experiences accessible, inclusive and part of everyday life.
Until June 14, a wide range of sessions and activities will take place in the city’s greenspaces.
Highlights include a whole day of family-friendly activities in Freeman’s Wood on Saturday and a Big Green Day of connection at The Gregson Centre on Sunday.
Lancaster’s Midsummer Market will be on from 9am to 5pm on Friday, which is also celebrated as Lancaster Day, in Market Square.
All events are free of charge, although visitors who can afford to are encouraged to make a contribution to help with the costs of delivering the festival.
Some events will be open to drop in but most of them will need to be booked in advance on the festival website.
Everyone is invited to get involved throughout the festival and to share thoughts and experiences on social media with #WildRootsFest2026.
The festival is also inviting visitors to make a #NaturePledge as a way to give. A pledge could be as small as sowing a few seeds, leaving a patch of untidy garden or something a little more like eating less meat or taking part in Plastic Free July. A list of ideas and some helpful resources will be available at the festival.
Programme brochures are available to pick up at The Storey, The Gregson, Penny Street Collectibles, Proper Lovely Lancaster, Green Witch Gifts, Pure Vegan and other shops and cafes in Lancaster, as well as during events at the Wild Roots Nature Fest locations.
The full festival programme can be found at https://wildlifewalk.co.uk/wild-roots-nature-fest/
The festival is supported by volunteers and is coordinated in collaboration with FoodFutures, Claver Hill, Friends of Freeman’s Wood, Exergonic CIC and Friends of the Storey Gardens.