Nature features

Rawcliffe Meadow slowly fills with Ouse

Rawcliffe Meadows Nature Park covers 25 acres of the Clifton floodplain on the northern outskirts of York. It’s looked after by tough, outdoors-type, volunteers - the Friends of Rawcliffe Meadows.

The group have kindly agreed to record the work they do on the Meadow, so it can be broadcast on BBC Radio York. They’re also taking photos and writing about their work for the BBC North Yorkshire website.

Before the floods came...

The meadow, a long strip, next to York’s River Ouse, is much loved by dog walkers and bird watchers.

It sits between a beck and a grassy flood bank - in times of potential flooding the meadows are filled with water to protect the city.

On it there are almost two hundred different types of wildflowers and grasses.

After the floods came...

I took a walk around the meadow with two of its Friends, Judith Sutton and Mick Phythian, and discovered amongst the vast, green, breathing space, wetlands, grasslands and copses.

The meadow provides homes to many different birds and mammals, including a number of nationally rare species, such as the green, shimmering, Tansy Beetle.

In the whole of the UK, the Tansy is only found by the River Ouse in York.

"Do you come here often?"

In previous years the volunteers have laid hedges, removed hundreds of weeds, planted large numbers of trees and shrubs and established a large wildlife pond. You can follow their progress here, as they repair, clear, plant and manage this vast home for nature.

The Friends of Rawcliffe Meadows are always on the look out for volunteers to help repair, clear, plant and manage this vast home for nature. It's a mammoth task, but very rewarding.

So, if you've been inspired why not volunteer yourself? You can find out more by filling in the form below.