A GROUP of farmers are helping to pilot a new environmental scheme which will see them being paid for improving meadows and habitats.

During the training session at Dale View Farm, at Thornton Rust, Wensleydale, this week, farmers were shown how to "score" a meadow and work out how much payment would be due for it.

Farmers can get paid for producing either a species-rich meadow or a good habitat for breeding waders. The more species-rich the meadow, the higher the payment.

Sheena Pratt and son James hosted the event, run by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority.

The YDNPA is currently awaiting a decision from government on whether the pilot can be extended and expanded.

YDNPA chairman Carl Lis said: “The Wensleydale farm payment pilot is one of the most important pieces of work the authority is involved in at the moment.

“Hay meadows are the jewel in the crown of the farmed landscape of the park, but truly species-rich meadows have become rare even here.”