Blooming success for wildlife haven at museum’s riverside

York Castle Museum’s directors are due to re-open a nearby riverside area in the next few months which had been previously sealed off to the public.

The Riverside Project will see the £120,000 rejuvenation of the area to provide a wildlife haven including a cottage style garden and wildflower meadow.

The project will also look at the history of York Castle and see the return of a fully functional Victorian water mill. A recruitment drive is now underway to sign up volunteers to help plant the 5,000 plants and trees and also to increase the days the water mill will be open. Volunteers are being urged to help with the planting programme on March 10 and March 24.

The project has seen the restoration of Raindale Mill, which was transported brick by brick from the North York Moors where it served Newton Upon Rawcliffe and nearby villages. It ceased to be in working order in 2002, but its water wheel is now operational again through the work of a team of volunteers.

More information is available from volunteers manager Fiona Burton on 01904 687687.

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