RAINCLIFFE WOOD COMMUNITY ENTERPRISE is a Community Interest Company which has taken on a 30 year lease of 222 hectares of woodland for the benefit of the community. Our long term goal is to return the whole woodland area over to Restored Ancient Woodland. This requires removing Japanese Larch, thinning of closely planted stands of Beech and through natural regeneration and community planting of native trees restoring the natural ground flora of the Ancient Woodland. Through careful management of the remaining trees we are developing sustainable woodland products. The woodland complex has numerous archeological features relating to its use by man over thousands of years. Charcoal burning platforms, earth barrows, sunken holloways, remains of an iron forge, quarries and criss crossed with Public Rights of Way and Bridleways reflecting its importance as a managed resource. The woodland complex includes Forge Valley National Nature Reserve a steep sided cut river valley created at the end of the last Ice Age from glacial meltwaters. The valley side provide an excellent Geological Walk through millions of years, demonstrating the changing plant and tree cover. Spring time provides a handy mix of colours and scent from blue bells and wild garlic, king cups, primrose, orchids and wood anemones. The River Derwent flows through with otters, badgers, deer , kingfishers, grey wagtails and many many other flora and fauna. The woodlands also provide two key entry points in to the North York Moors National Park. At Throxenby Mere just 2 miles from the Town Centre the Nation park starts and from East Ayton it is just half a mile. On the western bank of the River Derwent just below Ayton Castle runs a Public Footpath and when it reaches the river a 2 kilometre Boardwalk provides a beautiful riverside walk with seating benches. Access for wheelchair users is from the Old Mans Mouth car park.