Going wild at Rains Farm ...
Surrounded by farmland and only just over one mile from the southern boundary of the North York Moors National Park, just North of the Wolds and near the sea, Rains Farm is ideally situated to make the most of visiting wildlife.
The farm is also within easy reach of the varied Yorkshire coast with everything from sheer cliffs to sandy beaches and open estuaries, and the rolling Yorkshire Wolds and Dales with their undisturbed valleys and rising peaks. Overall, it would be difficult to imagine such a diverse range of habitats within one county.
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Sightings of numerous species ...
At the farm itself, there have been regular sightings of over 35 different species of birds including owls, hawks, herons and woodpeckers. Hedgehogs, squirrels, stoats, rabbits and foxes can occasionally be spotted in the orchard.
The elusive fox, badger, deer and hare can sometimes be seen in the surrounding fields, and it’s sometimes possible to encounter a mole redesigning the lawns!
Tales of the riverbank ...
The Vale of Pickering itself was the site of a post-glacial lake, and its highly significant rivers are populated by brown trout and coarse fish, with a species of Lamprey occurring in some of the smaller streams to the north.
Attractive damselflies can be spotted on many of the banks and - after declining for a many years, shy otters have now become widespread in the area. Rare fen meadowland can be found at the at the Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) at Wintringham and Amotherby.
Haven amongst the heather ...
The nearby North York Moors National Park is a haven for a wide variety of wildlife. It is the largest continuous tract of heather moorland in England and has long been highlighted as an area that is important for wildlife. It combines both dry heath, wet heath and bogs and is home to the red grouse, merlin and hen harrier.
The central area is also an SSSI, and the park includes a 9-mile route through Dalby Forest as well as Staindale Lake - an artificial lake created in the forest and home to mallards, tufted ducks and Canada geese. Even the scarce water vole has been spotted here.
Chalk grassland to endangered dunes ...
To the south, the Yorkshire Wolds’ chalk grassland is of national importance for Perennial Flax and a limited number of marsh and other orchids. They are also known for their butterflies and moths including the marbled white, which is at its northernmost outpost here.
Further south, the Humber estuary ranks amongst the top five British estuaries for the size of over wintering bird population. Scarce marsh harriers have been spotted hunting over the reed beds. The famous Spurn Point (itself a nature reserve) is constantly in danger of its unique habitat being eroded away completely.
Reserved for wildlife ...
Further north, between Bridlington and Filey, three miles of sheer cliffs at Bempton, rising to 400 feet, are home to a wide variety of breeding seabirds including puffins, and seals and porpoises have been spotted in the sea below.
Other Reserves of significance include Filey Dams, which is the last remaining freshwater marsh in the region and Forge Valley near Scarborough, which is one of the best examples of deciduous woodland in the North East of England. It is the policy of Rains Farm Holidays to assist and encourage the local wildlife, and to provide as many opportunities as possible for visitors to enjoy it.
As one of the proprietors Lorraine Allanson put it: ‘Rains Farm is intended for those who want to escape to somewhere special in a secluded country setting. The emphasis is on peace, tranquillity and the local wildlife - guests will be disappointed if they expect some sort of high-energy holiday camp!”
The farm’s policy of encouraging wildlife has seeded ideas for a new wildlife garden, which will no doubt eventually bring even more of the natural world onto the doorsteps of visitors to Rains Farm Holidays.
Bottom three pictures: Spurn Point on the Humber Estuary; Bempton Cliffs near Bridlington; Forge Valley nature reserve near Scarborough.
Use the menu system to explore our cottages and B & B accommodation, as well as other articles about the history of the farm and its transformation.