1953 Forestry Commission in partnership with Council manages woodland.
1996Woodland Trustbuy the 25 acre Raincliffe Meadow. This represented the only
area of Raincliffe Woods in private ownership having been used for many years as
grazing for cattle.
Brief History of Raincliffe Woods
Raincliffe woods was once part of the Royal Forest of Pickering, the largest forest
in Yorkshire which at the time of William the Conqueror was 16 miles long and 4 miles
wide
The name Raincliffe is believed to have derived from “Hrafn”, one of the Scandinavian
invaders to this part of Yorkshire
Earliest records relating to Raincliffe Woods under present name are from 1282.
Area’s of land known to have been wooded since approximately 1600 are classed as
ancient woodland. Raincliffe, despite intensive replanting, still retains area’s
of Ancient Oak.
1863-1864 Lady Ediths Drive was built through Raincliffe Woods by the then owner
the Earl of Londesborough. The carriageway cut through lower Raincliffe to Forge
Valley and was named after his wife Lady Edith Somerset
1926 Scarborough Council buy Raincliffe from the trust and 20 acres are replanted.
No further work was carried out for 27 years
1977 Council enter discussion with Nature Conservancy Council and Forge Valley becomes
a Nature Reserve.
1983 Council produce Conservation & Access policy confirming it’s commitment to Conservation
of area & return of woodland to hardwood.
2000 The first ‘Secret Wood’ event held in Raincliffe. The ‘Secret Wood’ was held
to encourage people back into the woodland following it’s closure due to a national
Foot & Mouth outbreak. The free event was to prove so popular that it became an
annual event.
2005 Friends of Raincliffe Woods held it’s first committee meeting