The wonderful world of nature across the Yorkshire Dales is being celebrated - and youngsters are getting involved. Clive White reports

CHILDREN have been aiming to inspire people of all ages to explore and enjoy the wildflowers and nature of the Yorkshire Dales.

And they themselves have got inspiration from Craven's top gardener, Chris Myers, Royal Horticultural Society Gold Medal designer and TV presenter.

The pupils from Giggleswick primary school have been lending a hand to help the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust charity create a display which went on show at the Harrogate Spring Flower Show between April 26 and 29.

Chris, who helped to create a species rich hay meadow as a special garden at Chatsworth Flower Show in June, is a Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust ambassador and built a dry-stone wall as part of the Harrogate display.

The design is inspired by the charity’s Flowers of the Dales Festival, which brings together more than 100 events each year across the Yorkshire Dales.

The events are led by passionate experts and enthusiasts and range from practical conservation and species identification days, to guided walks, informative talks and family-friendly nature activities.

Art and craft activities also feature in the festival and members of the lunch-time art club at Giggleswick primary school have been getting creative with Anthea Hanson, YDMT’s Schools Out project officer making colourful artwork inspired by local wildlife.

The youngsters crafted a papier-mâché owl, curlew and hare, as well as hand-felted swallow’s nests and painted pebble ladybirds to help bring the display to life.

One eight-year-old said: “My favourite thing was making the swallow’s nest out of felt – it looks just like the ones my Uncle has in his barn.”

YDMT’s Flowers of the Dales project officer, Leah Galloway, said: “Through the Festival we aim to encourage people of all ages to discover the wonderful wildflowers of the Yorkshire Dales, and to gain a better understanding of the careful management required to ensure that this special place can be enjoyed by wildlife and people in years to come.

"The Festival is now in its tenth year and more than 37,000 people have taken part so far. I hope that our display at the Harrogate Spring Flower Show will bring the Festival to the attention of even more people this year.”

Chris Myers said: “It’s a pleasure to be able to support YDMT with this project to help raise awareness of the Festival and the incredible natural environment on our doorstep.

"Dry stone walls are an iconic part of the Dales landscape, and their nooks, crannies, mosses and lichens make them a fantastic habitat in their own right. I’ve used weathered stones from the Yorkshire Dales to create an authentic mini dry stone wall on the plot.”

Before returning it to the Dales, Chris will re-use the stone at the prestigious RHS Chatsworth Flower Show in June, when he will team up with YDMT once again to bring a celebration of the Yorkshire Dales to an international audience with his ambitious Show Garden entitled ‘Hay Time in the Dales’.

His Chatsworth creation reflects the changing landscape of the Yorkshire Dales as well as highlighting the work of the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust including its Hay Time Project in which YDMT works with farmers and landowners to help re-establish the wildlife meadows that have lost some of their botanical diversity.

Other projects include restoring native broadleaf woodlands supporting rural heritage skills such as dry stone walling and encouraging people to appreciate the regions flora and fauna.

The charity is also involved in monitoring and recording bumblebee populations and their foraging habits.

Last year's results showed more bumblebees visiting traditional flower rich hay meadows than those under intensive modern management due to the concentration of pollen and nectar rich flowers such as clovers, Common Knapweed and Yellowrattle, all species which the YDMT aims to re-establish in meadows through the Hay Time project.

The Flowers of the Dales Festival is one of the initiatives supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery, who have raised £1,626,332 for YDMT since 2009.

Clara Govier, Head of Charities at People’s Postcode Lottery said: “Each year thousands of people take part in the Flowers of the Dales Festival.

The events offer a chance for people of all ages to explore the beautiful Yorkshire Dales countryside whilst perhaps learning something new. I hope that visitors to the Harrogate Spring Flower Show will be inspired to get involved this year.”