The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority is celebrating its 60th birthday this year. Julia Murfin spoke to Phil Richards about what it’s like to be a modern day ranger in the Dales

Iconic limestone crags, lush dales and heather moorland; a much-loved, living landscape.

It’s as beautiful as it’s ever been, but times have changed for the rangers looking after our broad acres. Modernisation has reached out to the rural corners of North Yorkshire, but beliefs in the national park purposes are, like Kilnsey Crag, dominant and reassuringly solid.

The Yorkshire Dales were designated a national park 60 years ago this year.

Back then, rationing was just ending and man was 15 years from landing on the moon, but six decades on the authority upholds the same purposes – to conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the area – and to promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the national park by the public.

Phil Richards, area ranger for Wharfedale and Littondale, has looked after the area for almost half of the authority’s lifespan.

“I started working for the National Park in 1987. To me personally, as I was born in Hebden, the landscape of the national park is something that has always been important to me. It’s a bit more than a job. I love what I do,” said Phil, who manages a team of volunteers and access rangers.

In his early days, Phil’s time was spent out and about, mending and making signposts, stiles, gates and footbridges, generally maintaining rights of way.

“My role was off with a rucksack on my back and out patrolling. When I started I was given a pair of steel toe capped wellies and a donkey jacket. Today we have a uniform, a corporate image.”

Patrolling included keeping a watchful eye on Barden Moor and Barden Fell where access arrangements banned dogs from the moors. The rangers would go out to make sure byelaws were being adhered to.

Technological advances have transformed Phil’s job. Twenty-seven years ago he would recharge the huge batteries needed to power the two-way radios used by the team. Today, everyone has their own mobile phone. Back then, paper records were the order of the day. Now, the authority has its own computer mapping system which gives the rangers information on the condition of every stile, gate and footbridge across the park.

“Volunteers are used to collect the data, and the information is at our fingertips, helping us to plan our work and manage our infrastructure,” explained Phil.

Motorised access around the park has also improved over time. Rangers used to travel in old Land Rovers and Talbot vans which were always getting stuck. Now they can go anywhere with the fleet of modern four wheel drives.

Phil remembers the first time helicopters were used to transport aggregates for path construction on to the remote fells.

“The RAF came to help us on Ingleborough with a Chinook helicopter. It created quite a stir! The downdraft blew us off our feet.”

Visitors to the park have become a year-round phenomenon, and numbers have grown. Mountain bikes are now familiar across the area and who would have dreamt the Tour de France would be cutting a swathe through the Dales?

Sadly, Phil has noticed a trend in recent years for less responsible visitors to certain areas of the park.

“There is more pressure and more visitors. More people are coming out on sunny, warm weekends to hotspots like Burnsall and Stainforth Force, leaving their litter.

“We want the national park to be inclusive and available to everyone, and I firmly believe that anyone should be able to come out and enjoy the park, but it is about responsibility. Rangers now have the powers to issue fines for dog fouling and dropping litter, but there are certain situations where we would never do it unless accompanied by the police.”

Phil has always enjoyed strong links with farmers, landowners and local communities on his patch. This contact is one of the most pleasurable and important aspects of his job which became even more crucial with the 2005 Countryside and Rights of Way Act which made 62 per cent of moorland open access.

“It’s about trying to get a balance and sense of harmony. It’s a living landscape, not a museum, but there are some parts that need protecting.

“As for the future, I hope in 60 years’ time the national park is still here as a national park and people will build on the work we have already done, managing a place that is for everybody to come and enjoy responsibly.”