A private railway and gardens seven miles north of Scarborough in North Yorkshire are reopening to the public again on this year’s early spring bank holiday on Sunday, 4th May.

The Moorland Railway and Gardens, just off the A171 at The Falcon Inn in Staintondale, will have an added attraction this year to mark the 80th Anniversary of VE Day in the form of a replica Battle of Britain Class steam locomotive Winston Churchill.

After the bank holiday Sunday, the Gardens will be open from 2 pm to 5 pm on the first Sunday of each month until September.

The owners, Lisa and Alan Williams, open their railway and gardens to the public throughout the summer to raise money for various charities, This year, they will be raising money towards local branches of Samaritans, Alzheimer’s, and Guide Dogs, as well as the Rainbow Centre in Scarborough and Yorkshire Coast Dog Rescue.

As well as the railway and the gardens, tea and coffee will be available, along with a huge range of homemade cakes and scones, a Tombola, and a plant stall. There is no charge for the train rides on the railway, but for this year, the owners are asking the public to make a minimum donation of £1 per ride towards offsetting the railway’s increasing running costs.

Last year, one of the railway’s opening days was dedicated to raising funds for the Martin House Children’s Hospice.