A NEW partnership has been established to improve the wildlife and landscape along a North Yorkshire river.

A number of organisations have joined forces in a project to create a living landscape around the catchment of the River Skell. The river runs from Dallowgill Moor in Nidderdale to the outskirts of Ripon and through the World Heritage Site at Fountains Abbey.

The Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, the National Trust, Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (Nidderdale AONB) and private landowner and high profile businessman Paul Sykes are behind the plans so far.

They are now looking for other organisations to join in and help bring the project to fruition.

A living landscape is a conservation initiative that aims to create a resilient, healthy environment that can sustain a variety of wildlife. It does this by restoring and recreating wildlife habitats across large areas and reconnecting them.

The vision for the Skell includes plans for improving the river corridor habitat for wildlife, improving water quality and reducing flood risk. It also involves the restoration and linking of ancient woodlands and conservation management of farmland to benefit barn owls.

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust northern regional manager, Tim Thom said: “Bringing together a strong partnership of conservation organisations with the support of private landowners provides a great opportunity to increase the wildlife value of this historically important area.”

Paul Burgess from Nidderdale AONB said they had been working with farmers in the Skell catchment area for several years.

“They have done some fantastic work on improving habitats for wildlife on the river and in the surrounding land,” he said.

“This new initiative will enable the partnership to build on what they have already achieved by improving existing habitat and by creating corridors that will knit it all together.”

Chris Fowler at the National Trust said they are already restoring and managing their own woodlands, grasslands and ponds at Fountains Abbey, but the latest project will enable landscape-wide initiatives that will improve the countryside for everybody.

Mr Sykes, who owns land in the Skell Living Landscape area, is now calling on other landowners and land managers to support the partnership's plan.

He said: “If you own or manage land in the Skell catchment then you can help to do more for the wildlife of the area by joining with me in supporting the partnership to implement their Living Landscape plan.”

Landowners can get in touch with the partnership by contacting Jo Milborrow at Yorkshire Wildlife Trust on 01904 659570 or emailing jo.milborrow@ywt.org.uk