Deliver co-ordinated programmes of activity that enhance the distinctive landscape, geology and cultural heritage of the ‘Ingleborough Dales’ (by 2020) and the ‘Westmorland Dales’ (by 2023).
How are we doing on this objective
Progress: In the second year of the Westmorland Dales Landsape Partnership programme £376,000 was spent on projects, including:
- 4 apprentices successfully completed the countryside skills training programme
- The ‘love your landscape’ grant scheme was launched and 6 barns short-listed for the Westmorland Dales traditional farm building conservation grant.
- ‘Changing the course, slowing the flow’ – 720m of river channel has been protected, 1.4 ha of riparian habitat has been protected and restored, and 1,250 trees planted in new riparian buffer strips and blocks of woodland
- Community archaeology survey across an area of upland rough grazing and limestone pavement at Great Asby Scar (report finalised)
- ‘Discovering Westmorland Dales’ – improvements to routes and leaflets were produced to promote 2 self-guided walks and 2 cycle/horse rides;
- through the ‘A Way Through’ project, local history groups were contacted; motorway and railway research was gathered; a series of blog posts and zoom lectures were done; and new walk leaflets were developed
The £2.5m Ingleborough Dales Landscape Partnership programme – led by the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust – completed its final year. Almost £140,000 was distributed to local groups and individuals, including grants to re-wet Swarth Moor and restore lowland raised bog priority habitat; and the restoration of the Ingleborough summit shelter. Over 5 years, the programme provided grants worth almost £1.7m to 170 individual projects, covering wildlife, cultural heritage, physical and intellectual access improvements, educational activities, volunteering, apprenticeships, and benefits to the local economy.
Rationale: The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s Landscape Partnership Programme funds local partnerships that aim to conserve areas of distinctive landscape character, improve their management and help people connect with them. A Landscape Partnership scheme is made up of many small projects, often grouped under themes, within a defined landscape character area. These individual projects are brought together in a way that achieves a long-term legacy for the area.
Lead partners: Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust; Friends of the Lake District
Supporting partners: Natural England; Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust; Woodland Trust, Tarmac; Hanson; Cumbria Geoconservation; Eden Rivers Trust; Cumbria Farm Environment Partnership; the Farmer Network; Lunesdale Archaeology Society; Yorkshire Dales Landscape Research Trust and the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority.
Further information: Ingleborough Dales; Westmorland Dales
Cost over 5 years: £4,500,000
Funding shortfall: None.
Related objectives: A3; A4; A5; A6; A9; B2; B4; B7; B9; C1; C2; D1; D2; D5; E3; E7; F6
Ecosystem services: Sense of place and inspiration; Sense of history; Recreation; Biodiversity; Geodiversity
Trade-offs: Some activities could potentially conflict (e.g. woodland creation vs managing archaeological features). In practice, all programmes are carefully assessed and managed to ensure that activity does not conflict with other conservation objectives.
Baseline: March 2018: Ingleborough Dales in year 2 of 4 year programme. Westmorland Dales bid about to be submitted to Heritage Lottery Fund.