diff --git a/softpack_core/schemas/environment.py b/softpack_core/schemas/environment.py
index fd2fd51..721ce08 100644
--- a/softpack_core/schemas/environment.py
+++ b/softpack_core/schemas/environment.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 import strawberry
 from fastapi import UploadFile
 from strawberry.file_uploads import Upload
+import yaml
 
 from softpack_core.app import app
 from softpack_core.artifacts import Artifacts, Package, State
@@ -269,10 +270,13 @@ def create(cls, env: EnvironmentInput) -> CreateResponse:  # type: ignore
                     "version": str(version),
                     "model": {
                         "description": env.description,
-                        "packages": [{
-                            "name": pkg.name,
-                            "version": pkg.version,
-                        } for pkg in env.packages],
+                        "packages": [
+                            {
+                                "name": pkg.name,
+                                "version": pkg.version,
+                            }
+                            for pkg in env.packages
+                        ],
                     },
                 },
             )
@@ -327,8 +331,17 @@ def create_new_env(
         # Create folder with place-holder file
         new_folder_path = Path(env.path, env.name)
         try:
-            tree_oid = cls.artifacts.create_file(
-                new_folder_path, env_type, "", True
+            softpack_definition = dict(
+                description = env.description,
+                packages = [pkg.name + ("@" + pkg.version if pkg.version else "") for pkg in env.packages]
+            )
+            ymlData = yaml.dump(softpack_definition)
+
+            tree_oid = cls.artifacts.create_files(
+                new_folder_path, [
+                    (env_type, ""),  # e.g. .built_by_softpack
+                    (cls.artifacts.environments_file, ymlData)  # softpack.yml
+                ], True
             )
             cls.artifacts.commit_and_push(
                 tree_oid, "create environment folder"
diff --git a/tests/integration/test_environment.py b/tests/integration/test_environment.py
index d096edd..9d686fd 100644
--- a/tests/integration/test_environment.py
+++ b/tests/integration/test_environment.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 
 import pygit2
 import pytest
+import yaml
 from fastapi import UploadFile
 
 from softpack_core.artifacts import Artifacts, app
@@ -42,19 +43,41 @@ def test_create(httpx_post, testable_env_input: EnvironmentInput) -> None:
             name="test_env_create2",
             path="groups/not_already_in_repo",
             description="description2",
-            packages=[Package(name="pkg_test2")],
+            packages=[Package(name="pkg_test2"), Package(name="pkg_test3", version="3.1")],
         )
     )
     assert isinstance(result, CreateEnvironmentSuccess)
     httpx_post.assert_called()
 
-    path = Path(
+    dir = Path(
         Environment.artifacts.environments_root,
         testable_env_input.path,
         testable_env_input.name + "-1",
-        Environment.artifacts.built_by_softpack_file,
     )
-    assert file_in_remote(path)
+    builtPath = dir / Environment.artifacts.built_by_softpack_file
+    ymlPath = dir / Environment.artifacts.environments_file
+    assert file_in_remote(builtPath)
+    ymlFile = file_in_remote(ymlPath)
+    expected_yaml = {
+        "description": "description",
+        "packages": ["pkg_test"],
+    }
+    assert yaml.safe_load(ymlFile.data.decode()) == expected_yaml
+
+    dir = Path(
+        Environment.artifacts.environments_root,
+        "groups/not_already_in_repo",
+        "test_env_create2-1"
+    )
+    builtPath = dir / Environment.artifacts.built_by_softpack_file
+    ymlPath = dir / Environment.artifacts.environments_file
+    assert file_in_remote(builtPath)
+    ymlFile = file_in_remote(ymlPath)
+    expected_yaml = {
+        "description": "description2",
+        "packages": ["pkg_test2", "pkg_test3@3.1"],
+    }
+    assert yaml.safe_load(ymlFile.data.decode()) == expected_yaml
 
     result = Environment.create(testable_env_input)
     assert isinstance(result, CreateEnvironmentSuccess)
@@ -93,7 +116,8 @@ def builder_called_correctly(
                     {
                         "name": pkg.name,
                         "version": pkg.version,
-                    } for pkg in testable_env_input.packages
+                    }
+                    for pkg in testable_env_input.packages
                 ],
             },
         },
diff --git a/tests/integration/utils.py b/tests/integration/utils.py
index 6948588..49ee51c 100644
--- a/tests/integration/utils.py
+++ b/tests/integration/utils.py
@@ -171,25 +171,27 @@ def get_user_path_without_environments(
     return Path(*(artifacts.user_folder(user).parts[1:]))
 
 
-def file_in_remote(*paths_with_environment: Union[str, Path]) -> bool:
+def file_in_remote(*paths_with_environment: Union[str, Path]) -> Union[pygit2.Tree, pygit2.Blob]:
     temp_dir = tempfile.TemporaryDirectory()
     app.settings.artifacts.path = Path(temp_dir.name)
     artifacts = Artifacts()
 
+    file = None
     for path_with_environment in paths_with_environment:
         path = Path(path_with_environment)
 
-        if not file_in_repo(artifacts, path):
+        file = file_in_repo(artifacts, path)
+        if not file:
             return False
 
-    return True
+    return file
 
 
-def file_in_repo(artifacts: Artifacts, path: Path) -> bool:
+def file_in_repo(artifacts: Artifacts, path: Path) -> Union[pygit2.Tree, pygit2.Blob]:
     current = artifacts.repo.head.peel(pygit2.Tree)
     for part in path.parts:
         if part not in current:
             return False
         current = current[part]
 
-    return True
+    return current