A NEW European Union and English Nature plan for the North York Moors national park will give it major conservation designation, and potential multi-million pound funding.

The vast moorland, which is already a site of special scientific interest, is now being put forward for the status of special area of conservation.

Ms Rona Charles, ecologist with the park authority, said English Nature had contacted farmers and landowners to seek their views on the plan which aimed to give protection to three types of habitats - dry heath, wet heath and blanket bog, and to protect plant and animal species which were considered of international importance as a result.

Once the consultation period was completed the plan will be put to the European Commission for a decision and if successful the park should get its new role next year, said Ms Charles.

"The designation will protect a much broader range of the moors features, essentially the main habitats and all associated species on the land are catered for," she added.

"It would be tempting fate to say that the moorland's future is now secure. Certainly it could not have higher protection against many damaging changes but we are still reliant on being able to work with the moorland managers to maximise the areas wildlife value."

Using the moors status to draw in funds will be the critical next step.

Life, the EU's financial fund for the environment, is to be tapped in a top level bid being made by the park authority, English Nature, Forest Enterprise, the Moorland Association, together with moorland owners, shooting tenants and graziers, said Mr Peter Barfoot, the park's head of advisory services.

"A full figure is not yet available but it is likely to be in the region of £5m-£6m over five years," he said.

"The availability of Life funding provides an excellent opportunity to enhance the conservation value of the national park and tackle a number of specific threats to it.