Centre for nature and green living

Donate

Join Us

Volunteer

View navigation

Visit us

You are here: Home / Visit us / Opening Times and Directions

Opening Times & Directions

Address: St Nicks Environment Centre, Rawdon Avenue, York, YO10 3FW

The nature reserve is open all year round, so you can visit and explore whenever you like! Please adhere to the visitors' code below when visiting our lovely site.

Please keep your eye on our social media and events page for updates and more events.

We encourage all our visitors to come on foot, by bicycle or bus whenever possible. There is bicycle parking to the left of the main gate to the Environment Centre garden. i-Travel can help you plan your journey. 

We have a very small car park the use of which we reserve for site visitors with limited mobility.

Autumn Woodland view of St NicholasFields signs_byLewisOuting_web

(site entrance from cycle route no. 658)

Walking or cycling

Either go along the Sustrans Cycle route no. 658, or along Lawrence St and turn down Bull Lane. Walkers and cyclists can also use the entrances on Melrosegate between the Post Office and Beckside Gardens, or the entrance at the end of Hazel Court.

Arriving by bus

Bus no 6 (run by First) and no 20 (run by Transdev) go to St Nicholas Fields stop on Melrosegate or Alcuin Avenue (off Melrosegate) while buses no 8 (run by First) and 747 (run by EYMS)  stop in Lawrence Street. For up-to date bus timetables and routes, please click on the bus  links or use Traveline or i-Travel websites to plan your journey.

Visitors' Code

Please help us to look after our beautiful site by taking your litter home.

Camping, fires, or the use of motor vehicles and motorbikes are not permitted.

Dog walkers: you are welcome to enjoy the reserve if you keep your dog under close control or on a lead, and clean up after your furry friend. The reserve wildlife, staff and volunteers, as well as other visitors, will appreciate your cooperation.

We hope that you enjoy your visit and that you come back soon!

Foraging

There's a wide variety of edible plants and fruits that grow at St Nicks Local Nature Reserve and we welcome respectful foragers who: 

  • Only pick from wild plants for food when you're 100% sure that it's safe to eat. Some edible plants can be mistaken for poisonous ones without careful and thorough checks. Remember: don't munch on a hunch! 
  • Take less than a third of what you can see. It's important to leave plenty for wildlife and for the plants themselves to continue growing.
  • Don't take more than you can use to avoid waste and to leave some for others to enjoy.
  • Are familiar with the law around foraging: It is illegal to dig up or remove a plant (including algae, lichens and fungi) from the land on which it is growing without permission. Some species are specially protected against picking, uprooting, damage and sale. A list of these can be found on Schedule 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981).

Join St Nicks

Over more than two decades, volunteers and supporters have made St Nicks what it is today: a flourishing hub of green inspiration for the city. You can help grow the green heart of York by joining St Nicks. Your support will help us sustain and expand our work.

Join us to help fulfill our vision for York to be a city where people value wildlife, the environment and each other equally to sustain a rich and healthy life for all.

Learn more