VISITORS who stumble across one of North Yorkshire's more remote Wensleydale villages will know more about its history, thanks to a £7,000 grant.

The Local Heritage Initiative (LHI) has agreed to back Thornton Steward's application for cash to help pay for a heritage trail.

A booklet can now be published, telling the story of the community, complemented by interpretation boards.

The project will also include a wildlife management plan for land around the church.

Meanwhile, another £10,000 is to be invested in an investigation into man's impact on the environment in the Howardian Hills, near Thirsk.

A professional artist and Rural Arts North Yorkshire will be helping to record changes in the landscape, influenced by factors such as dry-stone walling, hedge-laying and forestry.

Workshops in photography and creative writing will be held to help the project workers, with a CD-ROM and website planned to archive the gathered data.

LHI advisor Jane Haigh said: "These projects are excellent examples of how local communities have worked together to investigate, preserve and enhance their local heritage. There are still substantial grants available to help other groups learn more about their local heritage and take practical action to restore and interpret it.''

Other schemes which have been given grants include the preservation of prehistoric stones near Ilkley, in West Yorkshire, a survey of woodland near Huddersfield and in the Colne Valley, and a local history project in Bradford.

More information on the LHI's grant scheme is available by telephoning (0113) 246 9222.