STAFF working for two nationally protected landscapes have begun sharing offices, as part of a cost-cutting drive.

Chairman of North Yorkshire County Council Councillor Val Arnold hailed the move of the Howardian Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) team to the offices of the North York Moors National Park Authority, in Helmsley, as an example which other publicly-funded bodies should follow.

The landscape organisations already work together closely, as they have a shared boundary in the Ampleforth and Coxwold area, and have worked on a variety of joint conservation projects.

Cllr Arnold said: “All public bodies, not least the county council, face serious pressures from reduced Government funding.

"Partnership working such as this is a good example of the way forward, with money being saved and staff expertise shared. I’m particularly keen on some of the initiatives that use volunteers and help train young people in countryside skills.”

The AONB team uses volunteers to help with countryside management tasks, alongside the Moorswork social enterprise group, based at Dalby Forest. A new project is also being developed to use the National Park modern apprentices to carry out public rights of way improvement works in the AONB.

Cllr Christine Cookman, chairman of the AONB joint advisory committee, added: “We see this as a very positive step forward. The move has saved us 75 per cent of our office costs compared to our previous location, and we can now put that money into doing more community and conservation work on the ground. The opportunities for more joint working are also very exciting and another of the reasons for moving."