A former railway line, the Foss Islands path was originally built to bring workers to the Rowntrees chocolate factory as well as goods to a gasworks and a power station. After the railway line closed the path was converted into a very useful off-road route through the city which has proved to be very popular with cyclists and walkers. The route crosses the River Foss and is has wooded areas and flowers along its length. The route also features several unusual industrial metal sculptures along its length.

In 2014 a series of three wildflower meadows were created along Poppleton Road by a group of keen volunteers. The intention was to create a colourful tribute to those who had died during the First World War. The meadows remain and the colourful flowers and planted trees and shrubs attract a good range of wildlife. On the northern site a large metal sculpture is known as the Carriage Workers Memorial and this was built in honour of all those who worked in the nearby railway carriage works.

In 2014 a series of three wildflower meadows were created along Poppleton Road by a group of keen volunteers. The intention was to create a colourful tribute to those who had died during the First World War. The meadows remain and the colourful flowers and planted trees and shrubs attract a good range of wildlife. On the northern site a large metal sculpture is known as the Carriage Workers Memorial and this was built in honour of all those who worked in the nearby railway carriage works.

A small orchard of nine trees, six apples, a pear, a plum and a cherry were planted in 2012 with funding from Micklegate Ward Committee. The trees were chosen for their heritage value as well as their superb flavours and hardiness. There is an information board on the site with lots of information about the orchard and the adjacent copse of native trees which were planted by all the pupils at Scarcroft School in November 2019.

The grassy sward beneath the trees has been planted and sown over the years with a huge variety of native flower species; there are 36 (and counting!) species in the orchard and copse area while only 5 on the rest of the green. The sward is scythed at the end of the summer and the cuttings removed to keep the area from getting too rich in nutrients.

The area is managed by local people with the help of folk from St Nick’s.

We have regular work and learning sessions: scything, pruning, species identification, habitat building. And regular celebrations and festivals: harvest and juicing, wassail, blossom time and a summer picnic. We are always very happy to have folk come along and join in. Contact laurapotts@phonecoop.coop to go on a mailing list for the orchard and to hear what is going on.

Wigginton Duck Pond is a favourite of all ages and well used and visited all year round. In 2016 it was voted one of the top 5 ponds in Yorkshire! https://imfromyorkshire.uk.com/5-great-yorkshire-duck-ponds/

Cared for by:
Wigginton Parish Council

A nice place to sit and relax, Dunnington Millennium Green is being managed by the local parish council and a keen group of volunteers who have created a colourful green-space full of colourful annual wildflowers. The site has benches where visitors can rest and enjoy these wildlife friendly areas.

Cared for by:
Dunnington Parish Council and Dunnington Conservation Group

Things to help out with here:
Planting wildflowers and hedges

A traditional village pond looked after by a keen group of volunteers. The pond is home to newts and volunteers have put up owl boxes, planted bulbs and hedges to encourage other wildlife to use the area.

Cared for by:
Hessay Community and Wildlife Volunteers

Things to help out with here:
Planting bulbs and hedges, maintaining the pond, putting up birdboxes

A colourful and well maintained community garden open to anyone. People can come along to help look after the garden and harvested vegetables are put out for people to take away. Community groups can request a raised bed for their members to look after. The adjacent church regularly puts on coffee mornings where refreshments are available.

Cared for by:
Acomb Methodist Church

Things to help out with here:
Planting vegetables and flowers. Harvesting crops etc

Poppleton Community Railway Nursery is the UK’s last surviving nursery railway. There are plants grown and for sale, and a small garden.

It is located close to the railway station in Upper Poppleton, near York, and is operated by a charitable group as a not-for-profit organisation. It is staffed almost entirely by volunteers.The nursery grows plants for public sale, produces hanging baskets to order and, in the run-up to Christmas, sells seasonal items such as wreaths. Other sales include a range of craft items, jewellery, cards, decorations for the home and a variety of turned woodwork items.

The nursery is unique in having a narrow gauge railway within its site, originally constructed for moving plants and compost but now operated as an attraction in its own right.The first known railway nursery in the York area was started around 1880 by the North Eastern Railway adjacent to the then new York North steam shed (now the site of the National Railway Museum). This produced flowers and vegetables for use in various sites in the York area, including the new hotel and station. The nursery moved to Poppleton in 1941 when part of the station’s goods yard was transformed into an area to produce food for railway workers’ canteens and railway owned hotels. Wooden greenhouses, cold frames and an office were moved to the site from various locations.

Cared for by:
Poppleton Community Railway Nursery

Things to help out with here:
Much of the work is on-going and includes the general maintenance and development of the nursery site and horticultural business, but there are also one-off tasks such as painting, path and building maintenance, helping with sales and open days and seasonal work such as making baskets in spring and decorations and wreaths at Christmas.