THOUSANDS of people are expected to enjoy a range of nature-themed events in 2018 as a popular Dales festival celebrates its tenth year.

The annual Flowers of the Dales Festival, run by the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust (YDMT), is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year and wants to hear from people who are staging wildflower and nature-themes across the Dales.

Each year the festival, which runs from March to October, brings together more than 100 events that celebrate the special Dales landscape.

Since its launch, more than 34,000 people have taken part in events from guided walks, talks, arts and crafts and a variety of children’s activities.

The Trust is keen to hear from anybody organising such an event in and around the Dales this year, with a view to including the details for free in the 2018 festival programme.

Leah Galloway, festival project officer at YDMT, said: “Across the Yorkshire Dales, Nidderdale and surrounding areas there are local experts and organisations running some fantastic nature events.

“The Flowers of the Dales Festival has proved to be a really effective way to help promote events to a wide audience and boost attendance.

“If you’d like to be part of the Festival in its tenth anniversary year, please get in touch with your event details.”

Rachel Benson, owner of craft course company Broadrake, said: “‘We are very pleased to be able to include our haymaking and conservation events at Broadrake to be part of the Flowers of the Dales Festival and many of our bookings are a result of the publicity in the free FotD booklet that reaches a very wide audience.”

The annual festival is supported by the People’s Postcode Lottery, who have awarded £1,226,332 to YDMT since 2008.

Clara Govier, head of charities at People’s Postcode Lottery said: “We’re delighted to be able to support the tenth annual Flowers of the Dales Festival.

“Every year the wide range of events inspires people of all ages to get out and about in the Yorkshire Dales countryside and learn something new.

“I hope the festival continues to grow from strength to strength.”

To feature an event in the festival programme, contact 015242-51002 or email info@ydmt.org by Monday, January 8.