Giving nature a helping hand (From The Northern Echo)

Giving nature a helping hand

12:53pm Tuesday 31st January 2012 in Whitby News

THE famous “daffodil vale” on the North York Moors - visited by 50,000 visitors every year - has been given a hand by local people.

Residents from Farndale teamed up with the National Park's Make a Difference volunteers and staff to carry out habitat management work along the popular daffodil walk.

A wet grassland site - known locally as the duck pond - to the north of Low Mill, had become very overgrown with willow and alder trees.

And the Farndale community were concerned about the area becoming overgrown and shady, particularly as it is a popular spot for visitors to pause and admire the spectacular flowers.

Trees were cut back to open up the area and let more light in to make it more pleasing for visitors.

The cut wood was then used to make twiggy bundles and stakes which will be installed along a short stretch of riverbank in the same area to help prevent further riverbank erosion.

Natural England consent was required before the work could take place as the area concerned is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest due to the diversity of habitats and plant species in the area including the wild daffodil.

The park’s farm conservation adviser, Sally Weightman, said: “The assistance of both members of the local community and volunteers was greatly appreciated and it is hoped that local community involvement will continue with further work projects in the future."

Local resident Sally Potter added: "We wanted to mark the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations in some way and felt this would give year round pleasure to both locals and visitors to the Dale."