York Greenways
Welcome to the Trans Pennine Trail
A national coast to coast route for recreation and transport – for walkers, cyclists and (in part) horse riders
Welcome to the Trans Pennine Trail
A national coast to coast route for recreation and transport – for walkers, cyclists and (in part) horse riders
Welcome
A national coast to coast route for recreation and transport – for walkers, cyclists and (in part) horse riders
York Greenways
York Greenways is a York-based, fully volunteer run organisation dedicated to caring for and improving the traffic-free network of Greenways in and around York. Our goal is to increase the number of residents and visitors enjoying these routes to explore and appreciate nature on the Greenways and in the surrounding country side.
Our wildflower identification project focussed on the Solar System Greenway, a route that follows the route of the old East Coast Main Line which was diverted due to the opening of the Selby Coalfield in 1985, now part of the Trans Pennine Trail and National Cycle Network, NCN62.
An early survey of the route identified 25 species of wildflower. Our project was devised to examine changes in biodiversity and the path is now identified as a Site of Interest for Nature Conservation. The project was divided into two phases, firstly to survey, identify and record the current range of wildflower species. The second phase was to disseminate the data gathered in an accessible form, using social media leaflets and signage. A funding bid was made to the Friends of the Trans Pennine Trail Small Grant Fund that enabled the printing of leaflets and posters.
The Trans Pennine Trail National Office then put us in touch with the Two Ridings Community Foundation who had funding available. This enabled us to submit a further bid for £6,500 to extend our initial survey to cover the four seasons and provide more substantial information boards and allow us to undertake work with a local school.
Two final year Biology students from the University of York, Freya Read and Maya Radford, were employed as interns to undertake the survey over the four seasons.
Freya was then retained to design and procure the graphic representation of the material; trifold leaflets in dispensers along the way and A1 size posters in oak framed display boards at access points to the path as well as information on our website.
During the project groups of volunteers from local firms and students from the Pathway department for students with learning difficulties at York College, were organised to clear vegetation and create wildflower banks at key locations.
Finally, a local ecologist and educator, Phil Taylor, was employed to provide a wildflower identification and appreciation event along the path for Year 5 and 6 pupils at the nearby Naburn village school.
In order to sustain the benefits of the project we are now partnering with York’s St Nicholas Fields Resource Centre, incorporating the route in their ‘Urban Green Corridor. Two events have been organised to engage local individuals and community groups in the longer term care of the path. Additional wildflower seeding is taking place along the verges as well as the clearance of the invasive species.
This has been a phenomenal project to work on and has given the community so much to enable them to learn more about the local species they see every day on their journey along the TPT.
Peter Huxford
York Greenways
Date: 13th July 2024
Interactive Map
See our interactive mapping for detailed route alignment and route diversions.
Distances
Using the tables below you can work out how far you want to go on the TPT.
Useful Links for Information
Check our useful links regarding accessibility