Welcome to the North York Moors National Park

Our Projects

The National Park staff work on a great variety of projects, often with the help of volunteers, to care for the things which make the National Park special and to encourage and enable people to understand and enjoy what it has to offer.

Encouraging Understanding and Promoting Access

People to Places Project

A bid for the Department of Transport funding to promote cycling in National Parks.

Lime and Ice

Events, working with schools and volunteer experiences are all ways the Lime & Ice project seeks to enhance understanding about the distinctive landscape heritage of the south-west corner of the National Park and the adjoining northern Howardian Hills AONB. 

Community Access Project

We are working with local communities to help them improve paths within and between communities. Local people are gaining skills so that they will be able to care for the paths in the future.

Wildlife

The Cornfield Flower Project

Many of our rarest plants, particularly arable weeds, are on the point of extinction in the North York Moors. We have been working with a range of partners and volunteers to collect seed, raise plants and plant on in safe sites.

A helping hand for water voles

Once a common site in the North York Moors, water voles have recently suffered a massive decline. We are carrying out work to enhance suitable habitat in an attempt to reverse the decline.

Pearl Mussel Project

The pearl mussels in the River Esk are the last surviving population in Yorkshire. We are carrying out restoration work on the river with the help of landowners, to improve the habitat and have a captive breeding programme in the hope that we will be able to re-introduce juvenile mussels into the river.

Himalayan Balsam control along the River Seph

Himalayan Balsam is a non-native invasive plant species often found on riverbanks. We have been working with the local community, contractors and volunteers to carry out control work along the River Seph and its tributaries to prevent the further spread of this plant.

Historic Environment

Boltby Scar Excavation

To the north of Sutton Bank, the former Iron Age hillfort at Boltby Scar has been the subject of three excavations in recent years. Aided by volunteers, the Landscape Research Centre has been working with us to piece together the story of this thousands of years old place.

Nelson Gate

This famous and much-loved landmark on the Thirsk to Helmsley road at the southern entrance to Duncombe Park is being conserved.

Lastingham Mill

Dating from the eighteenth century, this important surviving watermill has had extensive work to secure it for the future.

Old Park Farm gin gang

Gin gangs or horse engine houses were once a common site in the North York Moors. Sadly few remain. An Historic Buildings Grant has enabled the farmer to save this important building.

Conservation Area projects

Conservation Area Enhancement Grants have supported work to houses in Lythe, Rosedale Abbey, Thornton le Dale and Helmsley which have enabled original features to be restored, so enhancing the character of these pretty villages.

Managing our Monuments

A grant from English Heritage is helping us to conserve for our ancient monuments.

We've been carrying out work on round barrows near Goathland. 

Helping the local economy 

North York Moors and more

Over the next 12 months, we'll be working with local tourism businesses and communities to identify, develop and promote aspects of this area which make it special and distinctive.