Foss Fairy Trail

During the COVID-19 pandemic, York resident Tracy Ostle was walking along a path near the River Foss when she spotted a couple of small, fairy-sized doors that another anonymous resident had nailed to trees along the pathway.  Inspired by this, Tracy began building small fairy-sized houses and began placing them along the trail.  This project soon attracted more attention from other local residents, and eventually, a small volunteer organization named the Foss Fairy Trail was founded.

The trail, which is freely accessible, runs about 750 m from Monkbridge to King George’s Field along the River Foss northwest of York’s city center.  While the fairy houses themselves are the main attraction, the area near Monkbridge features some park benches where people can relax or have a picnic, and the riverside area is also a good place to spot local wildlife and enjoy nature. Special events are also frequently organized along the trail.

Unfortunately, the Foss Fairy Trail has been repeatedly targeted by vandals, with some structures and other items being either completely demolished or burned down.  Nonetheless, local volunteers have continued to maintain it and to update the buildings along the trail, making this a source of joy and pride for the local community.