Murals on North Street Gardens: Nature, Community, Art

A new page has turned for North Street Gardens as the blank and graffitied flood defence barriers have been transformed into murals. Thanks to York College & University Centre students and a project with York BID, York Cares and the City of York Council’s Eco Team this part of the city has had a new life breathed into it. The aim?

To celebrate the history of the gardens and the themes of environmentalism, biodiversity and community.

Here we explore how this happened, what it means for the people of York and why projects like this matter for locals and visitors.

A new look for North Street Gardens

North Street Gardens have always been a peaceful spot, a bit of green in the city where you could get away from it all. The gardens, a gift from Rowntree’s, have been a place where nature and community have met for years. But like many public spaces, parts of the gardens – particularly the flood barriers – had seen better days.

Graffiti had made the space feel a bit run down but thanks to the York Cares Big Community Challenge this has all changed. This annual event which encourages community involvement in projects that improve the city saw design students from York College create murals that turned the flood barriers into something beautiful and meaningful.

Rachel Bean, Project Manager at York BID said:

“We are really excited to be working on this project. The murals not only uplift the space but create a lasting piece of cultural heritage for the city.”

These murals are more than just decoration – they connect people to the city’s history, nature and each other.

Art with a purpose: Nature and community

What makes these murals special isn’t the colours or the creativity but the thinking behind them. The designs were inspired by the natural beauty of North Street Gardens, the plants and the shapes of the nearby architecture. This blend of nature and urban life is at the heart of the York Cares Big Community Challenge which aims to connect people to the environment.

Holly Hennell, Manager at York Cares said:

“The murals have captured the environmental focus, incorporating themes of biodiversity, nature and community connection.”

Not only do they add colour to the city but they also remind us of the importance of green spaces and celebrating the community.

Students’ skills unleashed

For the students this was a one off. Under the guidance of Monica Gabb, Course Leader at York College & University Centre, the BA Graphic and Communication Design students were able to take their digital designs and turn them into large scale murals—a step from screen to real life. Gabb said:

“Working with a live client from start to finish is so valuable for our students.”

This hands on experience has given the students something precious—real life experience and portfolio pieces that will stand out as they move into the industry. It’s not often students get to create something so visible and the impact will be felt by the community for years to come.

York Cares Big Community Challenge: A month of change

The murals are just one part of the bigger picture. The York Cares Big Community Challenge ran from 16th September to 11th October 2024 and saw over 450 volunteers from local businesses, universities and other organisations come together to improve York’s green spaces. From weeding to planting wildflowers, these volunteers gave over 1,300 hours to make the city a greener, more beautiful place.

Here’s the stats:

• 450+ volunteers from 16 employers
• 1,362 hours
• 17,800 plants and bulbs
• 6kg of wildflower seed
• 48 sessions across 33 sites

That’s a lot of effort to keep York’s outdoor spaces green, vibrant and beautiful for everyone. Projects like this show us what we can achieve when we work together for a common goal.

The bigger picture: Public art and green spaces in York

The mural project sits within York BID’s overall strategy to increase public art in the city. Through the York Mural Trail the organisation is making York’s streets and public spaces more attractive not just for tourists but for the people who live in York.

By creating these artistic hubs York is also able to showcase its history and heritage, to show visitors that this is more than just a city with old walls and historic landmarks—it’s a city that’s still evolving, full of creativity and community.

York’s public art projects are part of a wider initiative to bring visitors to lesser known areas of the city, to turn these areas into destination points. This spreads footfall across the city so more areas benefit from tourism and local exploration.

A future for North Street Gardens and York

Thanks to the students, volunteers and organisations like York BID, York Cares and the City of York Council North Street Gardens has been physically transformed and emotionally reconnected to the community.