We're leading a partnership with the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA) to work with local people, community organisations and interest groups to deliver an ambitious programme of landscape-related projects.

A series of public drop-in events has been organised as a first step to gather views and ideas as part of the development of the scheme, which will cover the soon-to-be-designated northern extension of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. 

The programme area is likely to extend from the headwaters of the River Lune, across Great Asby Scar to Maulds Meaburn. To the west it will be bounded by the M6 and to the east by the Eden Valley .

Our Policy Officer Jan Darrall said:

“Stretching across the Orton Fells we have the second largest area of limestone pavement in the UK as well as Sunbiggin Tarn, which is a rare limy clay lake that supports unusual plant and invertebrate communities.

“The area has a rich concentration of highly visible archaeological remains that include stone circles and cairns, early medieval settlements, abandoned quarries, limekilns and burial mounds, Romano-British settlements and Roman roads.

“We are hoping that, alongside conservation work, enhancing access opportunities and interpreting the area’s significant features, the programme will provide support for tourism businesses, training for people seeking careers using traditional skills and opportunities for volunteers to record cultural and natural heritage.”

Kathryn Beardmore, the YDNPA’s Director of Park Services, said: “We are thrilled to be part of this partnership project for an area that will become part of the Yorkshire Dales National Park on 1 August this year.

“These sessions are a great chance for communities to help develop projects and feed in ideas.

“Staff from the National Park Authority will be at all the drop-in sessions so that people from local communities can also talk about their hopes and concerns regarding becoming part of the National Park.”

 

The events will be held at:

Maulds Meaburn Village Institute (February 23)           

Ravenstonedale Community & Heritage Centre (February 25)

Orton Market Hall (March 1)          

Great Asby Village Hall (March 3)

They will all run from 6pm to 8pm and there is no need to book a place.

A small working group has been set up to establish the partnership and includes: Cumbria County Council, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Friends of the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, Natural England, The Woodland Trust and Lunesdale Archaeology Society.

It is hoped that its work will be funded through the Heritage Lottery Fund’s Landscape Partnership programme with a first-stage application due to be submitted by us in May this year.

Anyone who would like more information about the Landscape Partnership should contact Jan Darrall on 01539 720788 or email [email protected].