TOURISTS are to be asked for their views on how to shape the long-term future of one of North Yorkshire's most picturesque areas.

A five-year management plan is being drawn up for the Howardian Hills, which has been designated as an area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB), and project organisers say the input of visitors is crucial.

The area, which stretches from the Vale of Pickering to the edge of the Vale of York, was designated an AONB in October 1987 and officials are keen to find out what draws people to it.

AONB officer Paul Jackson, of North Yorkshire County Council, said interested parties - including local authorities, the National Farmers' Union, the Forestry Commission and the Countryside Agency - had been brought together to form a partnership organisation.

"The current plan was written from general information we already had, so we had no statistics on exactly who visits, where they are from, and where they stay," he said.

"Once you know where the boundaries are it's clearly a distinctive area, the lump of low rolling hills between Pickering and York.

"It's very heavily wooded, more than twice the national average, and there is a real concentration of historic buildings. Castle Howard is the obvious one, along with Hovingham Hall, Nunnington Hall, Kirkham Abbey and stretching to Howsham Hall."

A series of village workshops are also planned to consult local residents on how they want to see their communities prosper.

Mr Jackson said: "We want to ensure local villages thrive with good services. Shops, schools, pubs, public transport and housing are all important issues in an AONB."

The plan will contain information on agriculture, forestry and cultural heritage, as well as sustainable social and economic development.

Mr Jackson said: "The results will help us to plan the management of recreation and access over the coming years. I can't see that we'll be creating large car parks everywhere, but what people tell us during the survey will help us to balance the complex needs of both visitors, local residents and the natural beauty of the area."