The older part is a former farming village and over recent years has become a pretty rural community; it has been particularly successful in the Britain in Bloom competitions.

[2] The old village is situated in a fold in the hills just below the 1756 church of St James by John Carr, close to the site of the John Carr's now demolished Ravenfield Hall and adjacent to Ravenfield Park.

Ravenfield old Village Garden Society was created in 1987 with the aim of improving the local environment.

It soon became apparent that entering the Yorkshire in Bloom competition led to greater awareness of the potential and diversity of the local environment and a concerted effort has been made ever since to improve it following the RHS guidelines on community, environment, sustainability and horticulture.

The village has represented Yorkshire in the national Britain in Bloom competition winning medals on three occasions.