Sir – On behalf of a local charity, the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust (YDMT), I’d like to say a huge thank you to the countless individuals, businesses and other organisations who have supported our work caring for the landscape, environment and communities of the Yorkshire Dales over the last 12 months.

Thanks to this vital support, 2013 has been a productive year for the Trust, seeing the launch of a new countryside apprenticeship scheme providing life-changing career opportunities for local young people, as well as the continuation of our work restoring wildflower hay meadows and native broadleaf woodlands in partnership with like-minded landowners and key associates.

Our annual Flowers of the Dales Festival was enjoyed by 5,500 people this year, and our education and outreach work saw us continue to offer disadvantaged groups from urban areas the chance to experience the physical and spiritual benefits of spending time outdoors in the Yorkshire Dales countryside, often for the first time.

It has also been a pleasure to be able to provide funding and advice to many innovative individuals, community groups and businesses across the region through our role as the lead partner in the multi-agency partnership that is the Yorkshire Dales LEADER programme, and through our role administering the Sustainable Development Fund on behalf of our friends at Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority.

From donations and grants, to enthusiasm and expertise, we are very grateful for all the support that has helped make these worthwhile projects possible.

Thank you and best wishes for 2014!

David Sharrod, Director Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust