PEOPLE who care about the Yorkshire Dales are being urged to come up with a 'wish list' for the remainder of the decade.

The Yorkshire Dales National Park Management Plan Partnership - made up of public bodies, farmers, land managers and tourism businesses - is updating its management plan – to cover 2025 to 2029 – and is asking: ‘What needs doing most in the national park in the next five years?’

People are invited to consider 18 areas, ranging from reducing pollution in rivers to increasing the supply of affordable homes, and rank what would be their top six priorities in a survey, which runs until February 26.

Malhamdale farmer, Neil Heseltine, deputy chair of the partnership, said: “The National Park Management Plan sets out the specific things we will work together to achieve; it is in effect a five-year ‘to do list’ for the various organisations that operate in the national park. If an area of work is not in the plan, it won’t get done. That’s why I would warmly invite anyone who has an interest in the future of the national park to take part in this survey.”

The partnership, which also includes North Yorkshire Council, is making particular efforts to reach those of all ages and backgrounds by producing a short video for social media, which asks people what they most care about in the national park.

Mr Heseltine, who is also chair of the national park authority, added: “We are facing a climate and nature crisis. At the same time, some of our farmers and businesses are struggling to make ends meet. All of the 18 areas of work listed in the survey are self-evidently important but we would like to get the public’s view on which ones are the most important – and whether we’ve missed anything.”

Crispin Thorn, area director for the Forestry Commission, said: “The Yorkshire Dales National Park is a really special place, but we know that the climate is changing rapidly and nature is in decline - even here. It’s important to protect the national Park, and this consultation encourages the public to have their say on a range of priorities and issues it faces.”

The Yorkshire Dales National Park Management Plan Partnership is currently overseeing the final year of its 2019-2024 plan. It reports regularly on progress on the 49 objectives in the plan. Find the survey at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NPPriorities. The deadline is Monday, February 26.