CASH aid from Brussels has created 26 jobs and helped restore miles of hedgerows and dry stone walls in the North Yorkshire countryside.

Latest information on the EU's Objective 5b projects in the county shows that £810,138 is being spent on environmental projects, including the restoration of 57 traditional rural buildings, 25km of hedgerows re-planted, nearly 35km of dry stone walls repaired, and 4,700 broad leaved trees planted.

Mr Andy Wilson, the chief executive of the North York Moors national park, says projects have been done as part of the moors farm scheme, farm and rural community, and upland management schemes.

Partnership ventures have been developed with the National Trust to carry out work in Bransdale, with Railtrack on wall repairs along the Esk Valley railway, and with the Nawton Tower estate to restore hedgerows.

The moors quality sheep association is to continue as a result of obtaining sponsorship, and moves are being made to step up the marketing of moorland lamb. Feedback from customer questionnaires has given a big thumbs-up to the lamb and indicated that people would buy more if it was available.

However, says the park authority: "Hill lamb is a good product with a unique flavour and texture, but meets with some resistance in the trade. There is a low volume of produce and sales in the moors which makes it difficult to bear overhead costs of running a marketing scheme".

The best way to progress marketing lamb would be to aid an existing venture to sell lamb or to enter into partnership with another scheme says the authority, adding that the newly launched Yorkshire lamb company is put forward as a solution.

Extensive improvement work has been carried out with the help of the EU grant aid, in the Upper Derwent. River banks have been stabilised, coppicing and stock proof fencing carried out in Forge Valley, surveys done of water voles, otters and mink, and boardwalks built on the banks of the river .

On the River Esk, about £284,000 is being spent on regeneration work to boost the local economy in the Esk Valley by creating better river fishing.