Deep in the Yorkshire Dales, the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust is launching a partnership with Nethergill Farm in Langstrothdale.

Farm owners Chris and Fiona Clark have a vision of creating a unique working “farm reserve” and the link with the wildlife trust could be a blueprint for similar partnerships across the UK.

The trust, which manages 95 nature reserves across Yorkshire, will help Chris and Fiona to enhance wildlife habitats on their 388-acre hill farm and create viewing hides, which are due to be up and running by the spring.

It is also helping the couple to create an interactive field centre, designed to bring guests and educational groups closer to their natural surroundings.

Nethergill is a working hill farm with Dalesbred ewes, rare breed White Shorthorn cattle and free range chickens, all raised for quality meats and fresh eggs which are used in the award-winning home cooking for guests at the farm.

In addition, the couple provide four-star bed and breakfast accommodation and have just unveiled two luxurious barn conversion holiday hay-lofts – Hay Byre and Hay Mew, which will sleep between four and six guests. In a first, guests will be offered concessionary membership of the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust.

“Yorkshire Wildlife Trust have and will play a major part in helping our guests experience, encounter and appreciate the natural environment of our Dales hill farm and it’s a privilege to be the first to offer concessionary membership with our accommodation bookings as a key part of this partnership,” said Chris.

Jonathan Leadley, the Trust’s director of development, added: “Although we work with many farmers and landowners throughout Yorkshire, our partnership with Nethergill Farm provides an exciting new opportunity for tourism, farming and a sustainable business model to fall into place for the benefit of Yorkshire’s wildlife and the environment.”

For more information, visit ywt.org.uk and nethergill.co.uk