By Ruby Mason
York is known as one of the most historic cities in England, it’s architecture and culture can make you feel as if you’re in a fairy tale… or should that be fairy trail?!
But, not many visitors know about this out-of-sight location that can transport you into a real life fantasy.
Just 15-minutes from the city centre is a river-side walk where you can see little fairy houses.
Every tiny home is decorated differently and the multitude of colours light up the trees, the ground, and every nook and cranny they hide in.
The Foss Fairy Trail website describes the path as a “magical journey through nature where folklore, wildlife, and community come together.”
Each house has a story to tell, one is home to Flossie, a fairy who is able to make sweet scents flow down the trail.
Another is home to the protector of the forest, Thorne, who’s magic “allows them to mend tiny burrows, whisper to the roots, and weave soft blankets of moss where they are needed most.”
Although this trail looks timeless and otherworldly, it began with Tracy Ostle the ‘Fairy Lady of York’.
In an interview with YorkMix, she revealed that during the covid lockdown she had begun taking walks alongside the river and noticed fairy doors on some trees. Inspired by the little creations, she made a “Nut bar” and placed it down on the trail.
When she went back to check, a letter had been placed in the bar which was addressed to “Mr. Squirrel” with an order of nuts.
Tracy told YorkMix “I started to make more of them for friends and then it just developed and developed,” and “people started to like it.”
5 years later, this sight is still popular with York locals and children, and is being added to all the time.
During my walk of the trail, it was easy to see that this is a community-led initiative that celebrates folklore and adds to the lively culture of York.
Nature is carefully looked after, with signs encouraging visitors to throw rubbish in the bin and keep the place tidy. Locals have also built fairy-themed rubbish bins.
I found that the path was easy to follow, with no sudden incline or shrubbery.
However, with it being only 1.5km long, I was quite disappointed when it ended so quickly.
The experience and houses were so beautifully crafted that I wish it went on forever! Its clear the amount of time, care, and creativity put into the miniscule models.
