Severus Hill in Holgate is a place of environmental, natural and historical significance.
A mile outside of the city walls it stands 35 metres above sea level and visible from much of the surrounding area. Formed in the last ice age, with historical connections to Roman Emperors, the World War II blitz, and Victorian day trippers. The site has been locked up and left in recent years and nature has reclaimed, forming an island oasis – a green lung in the heart of York, providing a sanctuary for wildlife and nature to thrive. It contains calcareous grass, rare in the North, making it a Site of Interest for Nature Conservation (SINC).
The site is currently owned by Keyland Developments (linked to Yorkshire Water) however the site has recently been put up for sale. The Friends of Severus Hill are a community led not for profit organisation (awaiting Charitable status). There primary aim is to work towards the acquisition and further preservation of Severus Hill, ensuring its environmental, natural and historical significance are protected and celebrated for future generations.

Cared for by:
Currently untended – donate to community buyout

Things to help out with here:
Campaign and Support

Contact:
friendsofseverushill@outlook.com

As part of the planning permission for the construction of York College the creation of a new wildlife site was required. This former potato field is now an important location for a wide variety of wildlife including common spotted orchids, northern marsh orchids and common fleabane. This is a site in need of a name and is currently known only as York College Forest School. Created around 2007 the site has a number of trails which pass through grassland, scrub and young woodland. A pond on the site is home to great-crested newts. Other than the plants, little is currently known about the wildlife to be found here.

Cared for by:
York College

Resembling a shallow canal this linear fen is actually a great place for wetland plants. Plants to be found in the fen include a wide variety of sedges, bulrushes including the rare lesser bulrush, common fleabane, evening primrose and many other colourful plants. There is a footpath running beside the fen. The best time to visit this location is in July or August.

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

Well off the beaten track Scoreby Wood is a mixed woodland with a good variety of woodland flowers. Ferns are particularly noticeable along the bridleway that runs through the middle of the woodland. The wood is close to Scoreby, a now lost medieval village, where pottery and building foundations were found in the 19th century. Footpaths in the area lead to Hagg Wood, Dunnington, Kexby and Stamford Bridge.

Details of how to reach Scoreby Woodland can be found in the Exploring York leaflet 0- Stamford Bridge to Kexby https://www.itravelyork.info/downloads/file/57/stamford-bridge-to-kexby

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

Greenfields is a combined school (Haxby Road Primary) and community garden project. The community garden was started in 2011 when the planning included the local school, residents and scouts in the designs for an orchard, plus a nature-friendly fruit and vegetable space. It is still used as a picnic and recreation space, but now has more butterflies, bees, birds and wildlife.

Cared for by:
Greenfields Community Primary School

Things to help out with here:
Planting and growing fruit and vegetables

This green space is comprises an off-road route through Rawcliffe with lots of grassy areas suitable for play and hedgerows attractive to wildlife along one side. There is also a wooden tower where fires are lit during national celebrations.

Cared for by:
City of York Council

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