I WOULD like to thank all the people who joined us last Saturday for our celebration of the tenth anniversary of York Environment Centre.

I would also like to thank to all those many volunteers, trustees, staff and supporters who have contributed to the success of St Nicholas Fields and the centre.

Opened in May 2000, York Environment Centre was one of the first sustainably designed community buildings in the UK. It has played a pioneering role in York and beyond and now forms part of York’s ‘sustainable triangle’, together with the neighbouring City Council EcoDepot and the eco houses at Fieldside Place.

It was good to have considerable political support on Saturday, with the attendance at the event of the city’s re-elected MP, the leader of City of York Council, the Chair of York’s Strategic Partnership and seven City of York councillors. The transformation of the former rubbish tip at St Nicholas Fields into one of the city’s loveliest green spaces and the development of the Environment Centre would not have happened without community involvement, political will and public money.

As one of the speakers at the event on Saturday pointed out, voluntary sector organisations like ours can provide creative and cost effective solutions to help meet public needs.

John Brierley, Project co-ordinator, St Nicholas Fields.