Severus Hill

10/09/2025

Good Morning, The Press in York has today published an updated article on the story of the Severus Hill.

If you kindly donated to the campaign in 2024, you should now have received an update and some options for your donation. Please check your emails and get in touch if you have not had this update.

In short, the resolution to this campaign for the hill is surprising but we believe to be positive, with the following outcomes:

💚The site will remain a green space, without threat of development, for at least 5 years.
💚Yorkshire Water are actively pursuing a working relationship with the Friends of Severus Hill going forward.
💚Yorkshire Water now recognise both the importance of the SINC status and the communities’ passionate interest in the site.
💚Any future plans for the site will be in consultation with the community and subject to the SINC and Biodiversity makeup of the site.
💚There is now no immediate risk of housing development.

Thank you again for all your support of the campaign (so far) and please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions or ongoing observations around Severus Hill. We'd be very happy to hear from you with any ideas, thoughts, reflections or just comments: [email protected]

The hill has been reclaimed by nature and is home to a wealth of wild plant and animal species

05/01/2025

❄🦊 Happy Snow Day! Stay safe and warm Friends of Severus Hill

25/12/2024

🌄HAPPY CHRISTMAS Friends of Severus Hill 🦊

The sun setting beautifully over Severus Hill on Christmas Eve. Thanks to the efforts of many the hill remains luscious, green, and secure for its inhabitants as we celebrate another Christmas and New Year.

🙏We want to express a huge THANK YOU to each of you as Friends of Severus Hill for your support this year. We wish you all a very peaceful Christmas period and anticipate a pivotal and exciting 2025 for the Severus Hill⭐⭐

13/11/2024

💚 Wonderful article reflecting on the life of 'our' David. Such a champion of the hill and a proud supporter of Friends of Severus Hill. Thank you for everything, David.

Tributes have been paid to York nature campaigner David Edward Ryder after his death at 85.

25/10/2024

🌼 ANNOUNCEMENT: It is with great sadness that we need to inform all our wonderful Friends of Severus Hill of the passing of the Hill's lifelong champion, David Edward Ryder.🌼

🦊Born May 1st 1939, David lived much of his life backing onto the side of the hill. Over the last decade, along with his family, he has been a constant champion and campaigner for the conservation of the hill and its inhabitants. In 2017 he was pivotal in the group that ensured the Hill was saved from a major development and again in October 2023, he stepped up to help us tell this story of the hill. 🦉

Ever self-effacing, he commented on his involvement in the campaign video and spot on ITV news saying "Unfortunately, I am not quite David Attenborough, though I hope it contributes to keeping the wildlife thriving on the hill."💚

He was our Attenborough, and will be greatly missed amongst the Friends of Severus Hill as a wise, kind, and determined campaigner. At this sad time, our thoughts, love and prayers are with his two children, Stuart and Caroline, and their families.

The family have allowed us to share the funeral & reception details:
📅 Friday 8th November 2024, 11:40am
📍 York Crematorium, Bishopthorpe Road, York, YO23 2QD
🌸Full details here - https://bit.ly/3C7Pcvj

29/08/2024

🌄Severus Hill - August Update🌼

A huge amount has been going on behind the scenes the past month, much of which has been difficult for us to share. However, we're now in a position to give you an update on our campaign to Save Severus Hill.

💚Thank you for all your support and interest in the future of this special space - https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/severushill/updates/212474

03/07/2024

💚Welcome to July! - Campaign update on June from the Friends of Severus Hill team🙏Thank you for being part of the "Story So Far..."

READ UPDATE HERE - https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/severushill/updates/211471

28/06/2024

🎶Join with many other Friends of Severus Hill this Saturday for 🎵𝐀 𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐆 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐒𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐔𝐒🎵
Community Singing Event (experience not essential)
Holy Redeemer Church Hall
Saturday, June 29th 10:00am-12:15pm

JOIN US FOR THIS TRULY UNIQUE AND SPECIAL EVENT.

LET US KNOW YOU’RE JOINING US - https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/friends-of-severus-hill/a-song-for-severus/e-degerj

Freelance composer and conductor for Royal Northern College of Music, Kate Pearson is excited to be joining us. To teach us some new songs and to help compose a new anthem for Severus Hill.

This event is open to 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀, 𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀.

𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗵𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 & CAKE 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗱 🍰

24/06/2024

🐝 "Give me ✌ good reasons we should protect Severus Hill...!" 🌼

💚....OKAY!💚

🌸 Wildflowers - The hill is covered with THOUSANDS of wildflowers, many of which we would name as weeds and pull up in our own gardens!! This diversity in our city helps pollinators like bees, but also creates unique habitats for various insects, birds, and animals, boosting our local biodiversity and making ecosystems more resilient to changes.

🐝 Bees - The hill is thriving with different pollinators. Bees are crucial for pollinating many crops, and enhance the production in our area (allotments & gardens) of fruits, vegetables, and nuts we eat. By doing this they help many plant species survive. Their pollination work significantly boosts the economy, especially in agriculture. Healthy bee populations indicate a healthy environment ....ALSO HONEY! 🍯😁

"Bee on Wildflower, Ocean Falls, BC" by A.Davey