Poppleton Community Railway Nursery
The Nursery, Station Road, Upper Poppleton, York, North Yorkshire, YO26 6QA
The nursery is located close to the railway station in Upper Poppleton, near York, and is operated by a charitable group as a not-for-profit organisation. It is staffed almost entirely by volunteers.
The nursery grows plants for public sale, produces hanging baskets to order and also sells seasonal items such as wreaths. Other sales include a range of craft items, jewellery, cards, decorations for the home and a variety of turned woodwork items.
The nursery is unique in having a narrow gauge railway within its site, originally constructed for moving plants and compost but now operated as an attraction in its own right.
The nursery was opened in 1941 as part of the wartime "Dig for Britain" effort. Many of the greenhouses and sheds are over 70 years old and some are former railway buildings which have been re-purposed. The narrow gauge railway was built in the 1980s to move plants around the site and is still used today. Children can have their photo taken sitting in the driver's seat. The nursery used to supply plants to the York railway hotel and the railway works and offices in York, and later created floral displays at stations all over Yorkshire and the North-East for visits by Royalty and other dignitaries. It was saved by a voluntary group formed in 2009 and became a registered charity in 2012.
Timings & Tours
- Saturday 13 September:
- Tours will be run as required
Location & directions
The Nursery, Station Road, Upper Poppleton, York, North Yorkshire, YO26 6QA
- Directions:
- Our entrance is off the Poppleton Station Car Park. Very limited parking on site. Train to Poppleton (York to Harrogate Line) - half hourly service Bus 59 to Poppleton Bar or Bus 10 to Poppleton Village - both 10-12 minutes walk.
- Contact on day:
- Paul Botting
- Telephone number:
- +441904797623
Booking information
- Pre-booking requirement:
- Pre-booking not required
Accessibility details
Uneven surfaces - take care
Additional information
The nursery is entirely run by volunteers. It has a very important relationship with health agencies in the York area, providing a variety of therapeutic activities to people recovering from physical and mental health issues in a safe and welcoming place. These include those offered under an agreement with the NHS and the University of York St John Converge Programme.
- Max no of people per tour:
- 12
- Est. tour duration:
- 0 hour(s) 30 minute(s)
