Helping others to look after the National Park

Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority encourages others not only to enjoy but to look after this national asset.

From hands-on practical help through to strategic or operational thinking in, for example, parish plans or the Yorkshire Dales National Park Management Plan, there are lots of ways we work with others to keep the area special and increase people’s understanding and enjoyment of it.

Recent examples include:

• National Park rangers in Lower Wharfedale are working closely with Embsay Primary School to create a wildlife garden. Pupils from the school are working alongside rangers and have so far created a pond and wildflower area and have constructed footpaths, drystone walls and planted hedges. Work started in summer 2009 and by spring 2010 the garden was finished off with some benches and bird boxes.

• Our rangers have worked with pupils at Settlebeck High School for several years to create better access, garden areas and hedges within the school grounds, as well as give the students opportunities to get involved with conservation projects further afield within the National Park. Currently, rangers, pupils and staff are working together with the purpose of creating a small wildlife area within the school grounds. Initially a boundary fence and hedge were created during winter 2009 and this was followed by various works concerned with the natural environment, recycling and climate change, which were linked back to the school curriculum.

• In August each year the Authority provides a residential opportunity (an outdoor, practical conservation-task-based project) for young people who are working on their Duke of Edinburgh's Gold Award. The latest was based in North Ribblesdale in August 2010 and run alongside the region’s Yorkshire Dales Open Gold Expeditions. The week’s programme was developed to include achievement of the ‘Discovery’ level of John Muir Award – a very worthwhile extra.