PEOPLE running nine wildlife projects in the Dales visited Thorlby to look at local conservation work on Saturday.

After everyone had described what they were doing in their home parish, Mark Hewitt, wildlife conservation officer for the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, gave a brief review of some of the ways in which anyone with an interest could help support local wildlife or enhance wildlife habitats across the Dales.

Examples included germinating locally-sourced flowering plant seed for meadow and woodland restoration, growing brambles for dormice and cultivating a variety of shrubs for moths, butterflies and birds.

Caroline Moorhouse and Justine Raynsford then took everyone to see the local woodland and hedges they have now been working on for several years.

Mr Hewitt thanked Caroline and Justine, saying: "Today’s visit, with people from as far apart as Grimwith and Dentdale, provided a really good exchange of ideas and experience.

"We are showing that, with our support and that of this developing network, anyone can get involved in local nature conservation activities – making and putting up nesting boxes, helping manage roadside verges, woodlands or local open spaces for wildlife or just growing and sharing a couple of seed-trays of native plants."

The projects represented were based at Airton, Chapel-le-|Dale, Dentdale, Grimwith, Hanlith, Hellifield, Langcliffe, Scosthrop, Stainforth, Stirton and Thorlby.

To discuss how you can share and develop nature conservation ideas for your parish or support an existing project, visit natureinthedales.org.uk/projects/parish-wildlife-project or contact Mr Hewitt at mark.hewitt@yorkshiredales.org.uk