The Yorkshire Dales NationalPark contains two speciallandscapes which have beendesignated as internationallyimportant Special Areas for Conservation for theiroutstanding limestone geology, unique habitats andexceptional plants and wildlife.

Concentrated in the uplands around Ingleborough, Malham and Wharfedale (see overleaf) this‘Limestone Country’ is one of thenation’s most important limestonelandscapes.

The 300 million year old glacierscarred Carboniferous limestoneand the thin overlying soils incombination with a long history of mixed livestock grazing hasresulted in a grassland habitat with a rich diversity of lime-lovinggrasses and wildflowers.

Mixed grazing with sheep andupland cattle helped create thewonderful diversity of plantspecies and other wildlife in theLimestone Country of theYorkshire Dales.

This has declined in the last 50 yearsdue to a move towards morespecialised sheep farming. This declinein cattle farming has lead to the growthof rank grasses resulting in the loss ofspecies and structural diversity.

The Limestone Country Project aims to restore this diversity on over 1500hectares of habitat by encouragingfarmers to return to mixed farming usingtraditional upland breeds of cattle.

●Grants will be provided to farmers to establish upland cattle herds.

●Whole farm conservation plans will be produced.

●Invasive plants such as thistles and brackenwill be controlled over 1000 hectares of land.

●The damaging effects of rabbit grazing willbe reduced.

●Upland cattle grazing will be established on Ingleborough and Malham NationalNature Reserves.

●A programme of ecological research andmonitoring will be undertaken to gain abetter understanding of the impacts ofgrazing on these precious habitats.

●A programme of economic research will beundertaken to help understand the effectson the farm business of a switch to mixedfarming with cattle .

●A range of demonstrations, publicity andawareness-raising events will be held topromote the project to a local, national andinternational audience.

●A project officer will be employed to be a single point of advice and support tofarmers in the project.

what is LimestoneCountry?

These unique geological conditions have also produced theirreplaceable limestone pavementwhich is almost exclusively limitedto Britain and Ireland.

In addition, the springs and fens in the area have given rise to uniquevegetation associated with theirlime-rich waters.

These habitats are home to adiverse range of plants and animals,some of which are only found in thislandscape. The nationally scarcebird’s-eye primrose and rigid bucklerfern are unique to limestone country,as well as it being a stronghold forinteresting species such as rockrose, blue moor-grass and thenorthern brown Argus butterfly.

what isthe project?

what willthe project do?

‘Farming for wildlife on the limestone of the Yorkshire Dales’

p r o j e c t partnersThe Limestone Country Project is a partnership involving theEuropean Commission’s Life Fund, Yorkshire Dales National ParkAuthority, English Nature, National Trust, Grazing Animals Project, RareBreeds Survival Trust, National Beef Association and landowners & thefarming community.

The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority is a governmentbody which has a duty to conserve and enhance the natural beauty,wildlife and cultural heritage of the Yorkshire Dales, promote opportunitiesfor the understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the park,and foster the economic and social well being of local communities withinthe National Park.

English Nature is the statutory body, which achieves, enables and promotes nature conservation in England. It does this by working inpartnership with individuals and a wide range of organisations includingGovernment representative bodies, agencies and voluntary organisations.

The National Trust is one of Europe's leading conservation bodies. Itis an independent charity which protects over 248,000 hectares (612,000)acres of countryside in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as 600 miles of coastline and over 200 outstanding buildings andgardens. Conserving our countryside and heritage and preserving ourenvironment for future generations are central to the Trust's mission.

The Grazing Animal Project (GAP) was formed in 1997 to help deliver biodiversity targets as part of integrated, viable and sustainablegrazing systems throughout the UK. GAP conceived and promoted theidea of Local Grazing Schemes (LGS) in which conservation bodies worktogether with the livestock industry to organise, rationalise and helpdeliver grazing that will benefit wildlife within a specific locality.

The Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) was founded in 1973and works together with scientists, volunteers and breed societies toprotect and conserve Britain's traditional breeds of farm livestock. It is notsupported by Government funding.

The National Beef Association (NBA) is an independent bodyrepresenting the interests of UK beef farmers, and which aims to resolvea broad band of issues of current concern to producers.

The Life Fund – The European Union’s Life Fund provides funds fornature conservation work on Europe’s most important wildlife sites, theSpecial Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas.

Natura 2000 – Natura 2000 is a European network of protected sites,which represent areas of the highest value for natural habitats andspecies of plants and animals which are rare, endangered or vulnerable in the European Community.

For more information about the Limestone Country Project contact;

Louise Williams, Colvend, Hebden Road, Grassington, Skipton,North Yorkshire, BD23 5LB. Tel: 01756 752748

E-mail: limestone-country@yorkshiredales.org.ukWebsite: www.limestone-country.org.uk

The Project

The Yorkshire Dales NationalPark contains two speciallandscapes which have beendesignated as internationallyimportant Special Areas for Conservation for theiroutstanding limestone geology, unique habitats andexceptional plants and wildlife.

Concentrated in the uplands around Ingleborough, Malham and Wharfedale (see overleaf) this‘Limestone Country’ is one of thenation’s most important limestonelandscapes.

The 300 million year old glacierscarred Carboniferous limestoneand the thin overlying soils incombination with a long history of mixed livestock grazing hasresulted in a grassland habitat with a rich diversity of lime-lovinggrasses and wildflowers.

Mixed grazing with sheep andupland cattle helped create thewonderful diversity of plantspecies and other wildlife in theLimestone Country of theYorkshire Dales.

This has declined in the last 50 yearsdue to a move towards morespecialised sheep farming. This declinein cattle farming has lead to the growthof rank grasses resulting in the loss ofspecies and structural diversity.

The Limestone Country Project aims to restore this diversity on over 1500hectares of habitat by encouragingfarmers to return to mixed farming usingtraditional upland breeds of cattle.

● Grants will be provided to farmers to establish upland cattle herds.

● Whole farm conservation plans will be produced.

● Invasive plants such as thistles and brackenwill be controlled over 1000 hectares of land.

● The damaging effects of rabbit grazing willbe reduced.

● Upland cattle grazing will be established on Ingleborough and Malham NationalNature Reserves.

● A programme of ecological research andmonitoring will be undertaken to gain abetter understanding of the impacts ofgrazing on these precious habitats.

● A programme of economic research will beundertaken to help understand the effectson the farm business of a switch to mixedfarming with cattle .

● A range of demonstrations, publicity andawareness-raising events will be held topromote the project to a local, national andinternational audience.

● A project officer will be employed to be a single point of advice and support tofarmers in the project.

what is L i m e s t o n eC o u n t r y ?

These unique geological conditions have also produced theirreplaceable limestone pavementwhich is almost exclusively limitedto Britain and Ireland.

In addition, the springs and fens in the area have given rise to uniquevegetation associated with theirlime-rich waters.

These habitats are home to adiverse range of plants and animals,some of which are only found in thislandscape. The nationally scarcebird’s-eye primrose and rigid bucklerfern are unique to limestone country,as well as it being a stronghold forinteresting species such as rockrose, blue moor-grass and thenorthern brown Argus butterfly.

what is t h e p r o j e c t ?

what will t h e p r o j e c t d o ?

‘Farming for wildlife on the limestone of the Yorkshire Dales’

projectpartnersThe Limestone Country Projectis a partnership involving theEuropean Commission’s Life Fund, Yorkshire Dales National ParkAuthority, English Nature, National Trust, Grazing Animals Project, RareBreeds Survival Trust, National Beef Association and landowners & thefarming community.

The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authorityis a governmentbody which has a duty to conserve and enhance the natural beauty,wildlife and cultural heritage of the Yorkshire Dales, promote opportunitiesfor the understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the park,and foster the economic and social well being of local communities withinthe National Park.

English Natureis the statutory body, which achieves, enables and promotes nature conservation in England. It does this by working inpartnership with individuals and a wide range of organisations includingGovernment representative bodies, agencies and voluntary organisations.

The National Trustis one of Europe's leading conservation bodies. Itis an independent charity which protects over 248,000 hectares (612,000)acres of countryside in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as 600 miles of coastline and over 200 outstanding buildings andgardens. Conserving our countryside and heritage and preserving ourenvironment for future generations are central to the Trust's mission.

The Grazing Animal Project (GAP)was formed in 1997 to help deliver biodiversity targets as part of integrated, viable and sustainablegrazing systems throughout the UK. GAP conceived and promoted theidea of Local Grazing Schemes (LGS) in which conservation bodies worktogether with the livestock industry to organise, rationalise and helpdeliver grazing that will benefit wildlife within a specific locality.

The Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST)was founded in 1973and works together with scientists, volunteers and breed societies toprotect and conserve Britain's traditional breeds of farm livestock. It is notsupported by Government funding.

The National Beef Association (NBA)is an independent bodyrepresenting the interests of UK beef farmers, and which aims to resolvea broad band of issues of current concern to producers.

The Life Fund– The European Union’s Life Fund provides funds fornature conservation work on Europe’s most important wildlife sites, theSpecial Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas.

Natura 2000– Natura 2000 is a European network of protected sites,which represent areas of the highest value for natural habitats andspecies of plants and animals which are rare, endangered or vulnerable in the European Community.

For more information about the Limestone Country Project contact;

Louise Williams, Colvend, Hebden Road, Grassington, Skipton,North Yorkshire, BD23 5LB.Tel: 01756 752748

E-mail: limestone-country@yorkshiredales.org.ukWebsite: www.limestone-country.org.uk

The Project

T h e P r o j e c t

INGLETON

CLAPHAM

AUSTWICKSTAINFORTH

SETTLE

Oxenber andWharfe Woods

Whernside

Ingleborough

CRACOE

MALHAM

AIRTON

ARNCLIFFE

GRASSINGTON

Malham-Arncliffe

Bastow Wood

ConistoneOld Pasture

KilnseyFlush

Cool Pasture

Whernsiderepresents one of the most importantlimestone areas in the Yorkshire Dales. The extensive limestone pavements onScales Moor support within their grikes(fissures) notable species such as baneberry,lesser meadow-rue and rigid buckler fern.

Oxenber and Wharfe Woodssit on a limestone knoll to the south east ofIngleborough. The site is predominantlygrazed wood pasture with a notablepopulation of spurge laurel. Limestonepavements on the plateau contain northernbedstraw and mountain melick.

Kilnsey Flushis a small area of fen, which is flushed with lime-rich water. It is one of the richest fensites in the Yorkshire Dales and supports alarge population of bird’s-eye primrose andmarsh helleborine.

Bastow Woodcomprises an area of ash-hazel woodpasture, a rare habitat in the Yorkshire Dales.Under the scattered tree cover are species-rich limestone grasslands with abundantbloody crane’s-bill and rock rose.

Conistone Old Pastureconsists of expanses of species-richlimestone pasture interspersed withextensive limestone pavements. Alpinecinquefoil and dropwort are found, as well as a large population of the northern brownArgus butterfly.

The pavements, scars and dry meltwaterchannel (Conistone Dibb) to the north are ofnational geological importance.

Cool Pastureis a small limestone pasture, which adjoinsthe larger Malham-Arncliffe site. Thegrasslands are largely unimproved andsupport a diverse range of plant speciesincluding moonwort, autumn gentian andlimestone bedstraw.

Ingleboroughis notable for extensive limestone pavements,dry valleys, sinkholes and caves. The rangeof rocks along with the peat and glacial driftcovering the site result in a diversity ofvegetation types. The limestone pavements ofColt Park and Scar Close support limestonepolypody and globeflower, while the highercrags are populated by arctic-alpines.

Malham-Arncliffeis an outstanding site of nationally importantlimestone features and cave systems.

Species-rich limestone pasture isinterspersed with extensive areas oflimestone pavements, supporting plantsusually confined to woodlands, such asbaneberry and angular Solomon’s-seal. Thegrasslands are dominated by blue moor-grass and areas flushed with lime-rich waterhave the local speciality, bird’s-eye primrose.The site includes one of the mostoutstanding wetland complexes in the UK,centred on Malham Tarn.

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