It might not be immediately apparent, but beyond the ancient walled city of York, if you’re patient enough and know where to look, there exists a city of nature far more ancient and beautiful than that which man has built. Within these walls and beyond a battle has been taking place for millennia, where the steady forces of nature are beginning to reclaim this city of stone and brick.
In the Museum Gardens are remnants of ancient ways of life, now reclaimed by nature. Great trees now grow where a monastery once stood, and a Roman tower stands defiant amongst the ruins. In this oasis of calm, nature has carved away at civilisation and established itself a zone of tranquillity in the heart of the city. The sounds are that of gentle chatter, the wind through the trees and the occasional church bell ringing across the city. The Museum Gardens are the perfect place to relax, meet friends, to explore and discover or simply a place just to be. A short walk out of the gardens to the Minster and you might hear the cries of a Peregrine Falcon; if you know where to look, you may be able to spot a family of them who have built themselves a nest in the church tower.
Walking along the city’s twin rivers, the Ouse and the Foss, you find that the dense network of streets and terraces quickly gives way to serene riverside views. Whether to the south of the city where the town gives way to vast floodplains along the Fulford Ings, or along the banks of the Foss to the East, where communities of Kingfishers, Egrets and Herons have made their home.
The University’s lakes are also home to a wide array of waterfowl, from Indian Runner Ducks, Mallards, Coots, and Swans to some seasonal visitors like Barnacle Geese who migrate to the lakes in winter months from the Arctic Circle. These lakes show how nature is at the heart of the University’s campus, making it a truly special place to live and study as you are constantly surrounded by wildlife. In the spring months, bluebells and snowdrops emerge from their hibernation, painting the campus a beautiful purple and white. As each year the parkland on campus grows increasingly more wild and untamed, and as nature beds itself further in, the University’s brutalist architecture creates an almost post-apocalyptic juxtaposition between the freedom of nature and the brutish discipline of the buildings. At times the campus feels like something out of The Last of Us. Whilst some think the Brutalist architecture is an eyesore, I believe that this new form of Eco-brutalism that has organically developed over the last 60 years is truly special as it elevates and centres the place of nature at the centre of campus life
Nature has also reclaimed an abandoned railway line along Tang Hall Beck. This vein of greenery through the heart of the York suburbs is a perfect route along which to cycle in and out of the city, and in summer months its thorny banks are abundant with blackberries.
For people looking to reconnect with nature, York is the perfect city to be, with brilliant connections to three of Britain’s most dramatic national parks. Just fifty kilometres to the east of the city rise the Yorkshire Dales, home to the tallest mountains in the county, secluded valleys and picturesque towns. To the north lie the North York Moors, a brutal and remote landscape with extensive wildlife. These moors and valleys were carved out by glaciers during the Ice Age, creating an otherworldly atmosphere, that is like nothing else in the country. The Moors are also one of the country’s dark spots, where light pollution is at its lowest, making it an ideal location for stargazing. On some nights you may be lucky enough to see the Northern Lights!
To the east of the city, the Yorkshire Wolds rise up above the Vale of York. Here lie beautiful rolling chalk hills that extend all the way East to the dramatic Yorkshire coastline. Just an hour train away from York are the coastal towns of Scarborough, Filey and Bridlington, where extensive sandy beaches offer the perfect place to cool off in the summer months. At Flamborough Head, where the chalk hills meet the sea in dramatic fashion, Puffins can be seen nesting on the cliff tops from mid-May to mid-July.
Most importantly, all of these locations can be visited and enjoyed without the need for a car. Railway connections from York can take you to the Yorkshire Dales, the Peak District, and to the Yorkshire and Northumberland Coasts all in under an hour and a half. Moreover, the Moors can be accessed by frequent bus services using the Coastliner network. Anyone can enjoy the beautiful natural world in which York is firmly at the centre of. So whilst you’re here, make the most of what nature has to offer. This is your call to adventure. Arm yourself with a map, grab some friends, unplug and get exploring.
