North York Moors National Park
 

Authority Services

Farm and Rural Community Scheme

 

Between 1999 and 2004, the North York Moors Upland Land Management Initiative known locally as the Farm & Rural Community Scheme worked closely with local people in the parishes of Commondale, Westerdale and Danby on projects which  benefited the area’s economy, enhanced the environment and improved the quality of life of the community

The initiative formed one of the Countryside Agency’s (now Natural England) national suite of nine experimental 'Land Management Initiatives'(LMIs). These Initiatives were designed to test and demonstrate how England’s rural land management and farming systems could respond to changing demands in ways that helped maintain a diverse and attractive environment, thriving communities and economic vitality.

The North York Moors LMIs aim was to:

  • test a ‘bottom-up’ approach in which local communities identified their
    own objectives
  • develop the mechanisms to deliver the objectives in an integrated way
  • create links between farmers and their community.

This partnership initiative involved communities of the upper Esk Valley, the National Park Authority and the Countryside Agency (now Natural England) with support from Yorkshire Forward, the European Union, Yorkshire Rural Community Council, the Rural Development Service, Scarborough Borough Council, North Yorkshire County Council and various local partners.

The F&RCS activity  included:

  • Extensive community consultation resulting in the production of Danby Parish Plan
  • Development and delivery of locally tailored Land Management Agreements with farmers covering 864 ha of farmed land
  • 19 environmental projects carried out by 3 Community Groups
  • Establishing the Community Caretaker service managing the local village environment
  • Facilitating the development of the Danby Parish Plan
  • A local products event involving 32 producers and 2000 customers