ONE HUNDRED singers have signed up for the York community climate choir but still more are welcome to gather on November 28, wherever they end up singing.

Organisers of a Yorkshire climate festival are looking to raise awareness of climate change by taking a positive approach to the issue through music. Ironically, however, this month's floods may force a change of location for the choir, as organiser Kate Lock explains.

"North Street gardens, on the bank of the River Ouse, is temporarily unavailable because the flood barriers are closed, so we're looking for somewhere else to stage it if the flood gates don't get reopened in time for the 28th," she says.

"The public are advised to check the festival website and our social media channels, Twitter @ForYork and our Facebook page For the Love of Yorkshire, if they want to watch on the day, in case we end up somewhere else because of the flooding."

In the meantime, Kate will "put out feelers" for alternative locations and can be contacted by emailing klockworks@btinternet.com. "If any large venue wants to offer us their premises for an hour or so for our Plan B, in case the waters are still up, we would be very grateful."

The York initiative will be part of a month-long programme of rallies and marches, vigils and meetings in cities across Yorkshire before and during the Paris world summit on climate change that opens on November 30.

Cycle And Sing on November 28 will begin with a procession of cyclists of all ages and will include a short open-air performance, whether in the gardens or elsewhere. This will feature four mostly well-known songs by the aforementioned massed choir, as well as speakers and the premiere of a special song, written and performed by climate scientist Dr Kevin Hicks and his band, Eclectic Sparks.

Organised by York environmental writer, researcher and former Press columnist Kate Lock, the For The Love Of Yorkshire climate festival is an attempt to open up the issue of climate change and to encourage a Yorkshire-wide conversation about local solutions.

Full listings for the festival are available at fortheloveofyorkshire.org "We’ve put out a call for singers through social media and more than 100 have signed up already," says Kate.

"Anyone that wants to join in, whether you’re in a choir or not, is very welcome. We wanted to get to 100, as we felt that would really make an impact, but more are welcome. There won’t be auditions or anything like that. It’s going to be short and sharp – there is a flash mob element to part of it – and, most importantly, we're going to use it to send a message from Yorkshire to the Paris summit that we want action on climate change."

Charlie Gower-Smith, who conducts various York and Leeds choirs, has been appointed as music director, and words and music for choir members will be made available beforehand. "There'll be one main rehearsal next Thursday, November 26, gathering from 5.30pm for a 6pm start at the Central Methodist Church in St Saviourgate, and finishing at 8pm," says Kate.

An hour-long run-through will be held on November 28 from 12 noon at a venue yet to be confirmed, ahead of that day's performance from 2.30pm to 3.30pm.

Kate Lock has run brass music festivals in York and has been inspired by community productions of the York Mystery Plays and the public participation in the Yorkshire Festival for the Grand Depart in 2014, both of which she was involved in.

"I hope that people will find the community choir an interesting and fun way of engaging with climate change," she says. "We're going to have the event filmed and we'll be taking that with us, along with a big signed heart. It’s a very accessible and a rather different way of raising awareness about the issue and the event will be upbeat and positive."

A Facebook group, Yorkshire Climate Choir, has been set up, along with a public group for the festival, For The Love Of Yorkshire. If you would like to take part, email choir co-ordinator Caroline Lewis at caroline.lewis@zen.co.uk

The events have been brought together under the banner of For The Love Of Yorkshire by such groups as Friends Of The Earth, Leeds Tidal, Oasis School of Human Relations, Christian Aid, the Diocese of West Yorkshire and the Dales, Leeds Trade Union Council, Leeds Church Institute and Zero Carbon Yorkshire.

Support has come from individuals working at the Stockholm Environment Institute at the University of York, York St John University, City of York Council, Leeds City Council and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, among others.

The climate festival links with the wider "For The Love Of" UK campaign being mounted by the Climate Coalition, which will be taking part in a People’s Climate March in London, Edinburgh and other capital cities on November 29.