News

Grouse Moor Management Benefits Recognised

10th May, 2009

Natural England announces £3 million for wildlife and people on treasured Ilkley and North York Moors.

Two of the most cherished moorland areas in England have received over £3 million worth of funding to help protect and enhance their wildlife, heather and footpaths. The funding, paid through a green-farming scheme administered by Natural England, will cover more than 5,500 hectares - equivalent in size to 9,000 football pitches - and will pay for work that will take place over the next decade.

Grouse moor owners, land managers and graziers across the two areas will now be supported in their work to manage the areas for the benefit of people and wildlife - especially plans to control sheep numbers to benefit ground nesting birds such as the curlew and red grouse and work to improve footpaths and gates to improve public access.

Environment Minister Huw Irranca-Davies said: "This money for Ilkley Moor and Danby Common will help ensure that the land is managed in a way that is good for the environment, good for wildlife, and good for the rest of us."

Peter Nottage Regional Director for Natural England, said "These two major agreements represent a strong commitment by those involved to ensure that the features and wildlife in two of Yorkshire's most beautiful areas are restored and enhanced. We're incredibly pleased and looking forward to seeing the environment in these much-loved places thrive.

The new agreements are in place thanks to the hard work and professionalism of Natural England's advisers and the support of local authorities, grouse moor owners, farmers, graziers and other stakeholders and partners who have been working together over the last few months to put a number of practical activities in place. We thank everyone involved for working with us to reach this terrific milestone"

Ilkley Moor

The famous expanse of stunning heather moors that looms over the towns of Ilkley and Burley-in-Wharfedale will benefit from £1 million worth of funding.Features of the scheme include:

• The numbers of sheep on the moor will be carefully managed and shepherded to help heather, bilberry, cotton grasses and other important vegetation regenerate and provide improved habitat for ground-nesting birds like golden plover, snipe and curlew. Other wildlife like green hairstreak butterfly, merlin and short eared owl will also benefit.
• Damaged footpaths, walls and gates will be restored.
• In consultation with English Heritage, historical features including rare cup and ring stones will be surveyed, restored and protected.
• Bracken has taken over so it will be carefully controlled to return areas to good quality heath and prevent further damage to historical features.
• A heather burning and cutting plan will encourage healthy growth of plant species like cowberry and cotton grasses. This will preserve and improve the deep peat blanket bogs which help to lock up carbon dioxide.
• Areas of the moor badly damaged by fire two years ago will be re-seeded to restore it to its original condition.

Edward Bromet, Chairman of the Moorland Association and member of Bingley Moor Partnership said: "The Moorland Association's approach to managing moors ensures that farming, grouse shooting, access and conservation all work hand in hand. By joining up the grouse shooting rights over both Ilkley and Burley moors we have been able to protect the whole area with this win-win solution for everyone, ensuring its sustainable future. We hope it will not be long before we start to see birds like curlew, lapwing, golden plover, red grouse and merlin flourish."

Bradford Council's Executive Member for Environment and Culture, Coun. Anne Hawkesworth, said: "This is fantastic news which will make a huge difference to the future wellbeing of Ilkley Moor. The moor is one of the most famous in the country and it is our duty to nurture it and restore it to its former glory following the fires in 2007. By increasing the heather and beating back the bracken, even more people will be able to enjoy it for many years to come and we warmly welcome the news."

The agreement has been created in partnership between Natural England, the Moorland Association, English Heritage, Bradford Metropolitan District Council, the Bingley Moor Partnership and local landowners and graziers. Money for Environmental Stewardship comes from the Rural Development Programme for England, a part-European funded scheme owned by Defra.

Celebrating news of a £1m investment in Ilkley Moor are, from left, Dave Key, from Natural England, Councillor Anne Hawkesworth and Edward Bromet, from the Moorland Association. Coun Hawkesworth said she wanted to see a time when the whole of the Wharfe valley was surrounded on all sides by purple heather, not just the Nidderdale side as was the case at the moment.

Danby Common

The huge 4,500 hectare expanse of Danby Common sits in the heart of the North York Moors National Park. The moor is managed by the landowner, The Viscount Downe and the Danby Court Leet (a centuries old commons system) , where local people have a stake in the future of the moorUnder the agreement, the partnership and local community will benefit from £2 million worth of support. Features of the scheme include:

• Graziers have adapted the number of sheep to benefit heather regeneration, with the moor owners bringing in two new flocks. A shepherd will be employed to look after the sheep.
• Managed grazing and heather burning regimes will continue to improve moorland habitats for merlin, golden plover, lapwing and curlew.
• New and improved information for moorland visitors. This will include leaflets, displays, guided walks and demonstrations of moorland management skills.
• The signing up of the agreement is the first for a Common on the North York Moors

Robert Sword, the Agent for the Dawnay Estates explains that "This HLS Scheme represents a real opportunity for graziers and land managers to join forces and over a ten year period to improve the management of the Danby Moors as a sustainable environmental, sporting and agricultural resource with an added by-product of enhancing the landscape quality of this part of the North York Moors National Park. This is a very last chance to retain the hill-flocks and improve the management and quality of sheep production which will help to reduce levels of tick and increase production of grouse and the numbers of other moorland birds. The graziers, keepers and members of the Court Leet will, I am sure, rise to the challenge."

Martin Foord, local farmer and Bailiff to Danby Court Leet said: 'This agreement will really help with future management of Danby Common. It will help to secure a sustainable future for moorland sheep flocks which are so important in maintaining the health of the moors. Grazing and burning will continue to be carried out in a way that benefits the wide variety of wildlife that rely upon it. So visitors and local people will now be able to enjoy this beautiful landscape for many years to come'.

Fraser Hugill, Head of Conservation Management at the North York Moors National Park Authority said: "It is a great credit to all parties involved that this scheme has been agreed to ensure the long term future of Danby Common. The National Park Authority will be doing all it can to assist Natural England, moorland graziers and estates to ensure this is the first of many agreements which will secure the long term future of the North York Moors landscape."

Natural England has worked with the North York Moors National Park, land owners, the common rights holders and the Court Leet to put this agreement in place.