A ground-breaking project in North Yorkshire, co-led by the National Trust and Nidderdale AONB, is inviting the public to get involved.
A ground-breaking project in North Yorkshire, co-led by the National Trust and Nidderdale AONB, is inviting the public to get involved.
The £2.5m Skell Valley Project, supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, aims to bring the community, farmers and landowners together to safeguard the valley’s unique cultural and natural heritage.
The four-year project focuses on the 12-mile River Skell, which flows from Dallowgill Moor to Ripon and includes the World Heritage Site of Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal.
To mark the start of the project, a free celebratory event takes place at Hell Wath Nature Reserve in Ripon on Saturday 11th September from 1pm till 4pm.
A host of activities will be on offer, from stream dipping and guided nature walks, to natural wool dyeing sessions and an historical archives display. Refreshments and Yorkshire Dales ice cream will also be available.
Nabil Abbas, manager of the Skell Valley Project, said:
"The Skell Valley Project is all about working with the local community to improve this rich and beautiful landscape’s resilience to climate change, boost the local economy and increase people’s access to green space following the coronavirus pandemic.
"I hope everyone will join us on 11 September as we celebrate the start of this innovative project."
Project partners and local community groups will be on hand to lead activities, talk about their organisations and answer questions about the impact of this four-year project. The free event is open to all, and no prior booking is required.
There will also be opportunities for people of all backgrounds, abilities, and interests to get involved and join in with the Skell community. Volunteer roles are currently being recruited in nature conservation and archive research.
Opportunities include joining the Skell Valley volunteer rangers, suited to those who love the great outdoors and are eager to get stuck in with practical nature conservation tasks.
Nabil Abbas added:
"Volunteering offers fantastic opportunities for those wanting to develop practical conservation skills, learn about wildlife management or who might even want to follow a career in habitat conservation.
"It’s also a great way to meet like-minded people, help safeguard our beautiful landscape, and try something new."
For those more interested in the history of the Skell Valley, volunteers are needed for the Digging Deep in the Archives project with West Yorkshire Archives Service, to help transcribe archives and help others to find records which they would never have otherwise discovered.
Vicky Grindrod, archivist at West Yorkshire Archive Service said:
"The ‘Digging Deep in the Archive’ volunteer roles will suit anyone with an interest in the heritage of the Skell Valley.
"They’re a great opportunity to explore the rich history of the area, learn new skills, and share what you discover with others."
David Renwick, Director, England, North at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said:
"Through our conversations with National Lottery players, we know that nature and landscape is incredibly important to them, and the funding for the Skell Valley Project means that they can play their part in preserving the significant and varied wildlife that the North of England is home to.
"The Skell Valley is home to special built heritage, amazing landscape and wonderful nature but all of this is at risk from the impacts of Climate Change – it’s important we take steps to make all landscape more resilient and adaptable and using solutions based in nature, such as natural flood risk measures has so many other benefits too.
"We’re pleased that National Lottery Good Causes are supporting such crucial work supported by such a positive partnership."
Find more information on: nationaltrust.org.uk/skellvalleyproject
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