(AGENPARL) – Mon 27 October 2025 Please find our latest news release below.
Andrew Fagg
Media Officer
Working hours: Mon | Tue | Fri
http://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk
Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority
Yoredale | Bainbridge | Leyburn | DL8 3EL
News Release
[YDNPA 4cm_BLACK]
“Bold” vision for Yorkshire Dales unveiled
Bainbridge, 27 October 2025
A bold vision for the Yorkshire Dales was unveiled in Grassington by partners from across the region who gathered to launch an updated National Park Management Plan for 2025–2030.
Representatives from local authorities and national bodies mixed with farmers, business leaders and community organisations at the Devonshire Institute last Thursday, 23 October.
Presentations were made on the “six ambitions” of the management plan. These ambitions include restoring wildlife, mitigating the effects of climate change, strengthening communities, and boosting the local economy.
The Annual Forum of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Management Plan Partnership heard there are 40 objectives in the plan, six of which are described as “transformational” – reflecting both the scale of their impact and the scale of the current shortfall in the funding needed to achieve them, despite the fact that they are national government targets for wildlife and climate. This includes an objective to bring all remaining degraded peatland in the National Park into initial restoration by 2035.
Outgoing Chair of the Partnership, David Sharrod, said: “These objectives are measurable and grounded in reality. This isn’t vague ‘motherhood and apple pie’ — it’s about putting local people at the heart of real change.”
Other members of the Partnership provided more detail about the proposals in the plan.
Neil Heseltine, a local farmer, spoke about the objectives for wildlife. His remarks highlighted the urgent need to address declining river quality and biodiversity.
He said: “As someone who has farmed in the Dales all my life, I’ve seen how deeply our landscapes, our farming culture and local communities are intertwined with nature. But we face real challenges. Our rivers are deteriorating in their quality. Although we are bucking the national trend with species like red squirrel and curlew, overall biodiversity is still in decline. This new plan sets out a bold and a brave ambition to help nature recover at scale.”
Michael Devlin, Chief Executive of Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust, said: “Of the five million annual visitors to the Dales, 97% are white and three-quarters are over 45. We want to change that — to make the Dales a truly welcoming and inclusive place.”
Angela Jones, Director of Thriving Places at Westmorland and Furness Council, spoke about the objectives to support strong communities. Her comments underscored the importance of affordable housing to retain and attract young people.
She said: “We’re lucky we’ve got very strong communities across the National Park area, and really thriving community groups and networks. The challenge is a declining working age population. We need to retain our young families and young people and attract more young people to the area. Having the right type of new housing — affordable housing, whether that is for sale or for rent — is really important. Our objective for the next five years is to support the completion of 250 dwellings in the National Park, at least half of which will be affordable.”
The updated Management Plan marks a renewed commitment to protecting and enhancing the Yorkshire Dales for future generations — with partners pledging to work together to turn ambition into action.
//ends//
Note to Newsdesk
Images:
1 National Park Management Plan Partnership members stand to introduce themselves at their annual forum event, held at Grassington Devonshire Institute on 23 October 2025.
2 The Wharfe near Grassington on the day of the National Park Management Plan 2025 forum. The event heard that a ‘significant focus’ of the new management plan is on river health.
1. The Yorkshire Dales National Park is one of 15 National Parks in the UK. It is administered by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, which has two main purposes: “to conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage” and “to promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the National Park”. In carrying out these purposes, the Authority has a duty “to seek to foster the economic and social well being of local communities”. The National Park Authority comprises 25 members, made up of unitary, county and city councillors and members appointed by the Secretary of State for the Environment to represent parishes or in recognition of their specialist skills or knowledge.
1. All of our work is guided by the vision for the future of the National Park set out in the Yorkshire Dales National Park Management Plan: “Through their passion for this special place, local people and businesses will keep the Yorkshire Dales National Park a thriving area. Its unique cultural landscape will be treasured for its stunning scenery, exceptional heritage and wonderful wildlife, and every year millions of people will be inspired to be a part of it.”