16 September 2026
Residents and organisations from across the North York Moors are invited to join a new series of Community Forums, providing an opportunity to hear directly from the National Park Authority, ask questions and share what matters to them in their local area.
Three forums will take place each year, covering the Southern, Western, and Northern & Coastal areas of the National Park. Each will provide a chance to find out more about the Authority’s work, hear about projects and initiatives and suggest topics for future meetings.
The first forum will cover the Southern Area and take place on 8 October at the Old Vicarage in Helmsley, this is followed by the Northern & Coastal Area forum at Danby Lodge National Park Centre on 21 October. The Western Area forum will take place on 28 October, also at the Old Vicarage in Helmsley. Doors open at 6.30pm for a 7pm start, with each meeting expected to run until 9pm.
Every session will be held as a hybrid meeting, with people also able to attend online. This will make it easier for those who cannot travel to the venue or have caring or work commitments. The agendas reflect the character and priorities of each region, with topics ranging from nature recovery to tourism, heritage and planning.
Tom Hind, Chief Executive Officer at the North York Moors National Park Authority, said:
“There are more ways than ever for a National Park Authority to share information far and wide, but nothing quite replaces being in a room together and having a two-way conversation.
“The forums give people the opportunity to hear directly from us about the work we are doing and the projects underway. They also give us a chance to listen to the people who know these communities and landscapes best, answer questions and hear what matters locally.
“By bringing these forums to different parts of the National Park, we hope to make it easier for people to find out what is happening, ask questions and have those valuable conversations face to face.”
Agendas for each of the 2026 Community Forums are now live on the National Park Authority website.
Please visit northyorkmoors.org.uk/communityforums for more information and to book your place, you can also call the National Park Authority on 01439 772500 or email general@northyorkmoors.org.uk
ENDS
Notes to Editors
Media contacts
Nina Beadle, Communications Office, North York Moors National Park Authority
press@northyorkmoors.org.uk
01439 772700
The North York Moors National Park
The North York Moors is a beautiful landscape of stunning moorland, ancient woodland and historic sites. Created on 28 November 1952, it became Britain’s sixth national park. Covering an area of 554 square miles (1,436 square kilometres) the National Park has 26 miles of coastline, two national nature reserves, 840 Scheduled Monuments and over 3,000 listed buildings, attracting an estimated 9.03 million visitors a year.
The National Park has two visitor centres, Danby Lodge National Park Centre and Sutton Bank National Park Centre, providing opportunities for cycling, walking, eating, picnicking, shopping, crafts and wildlife-watching. The centre in Danby also houses the Inspired by… gallery, which features regularly changing exhibitions by artists who draw their inspiration from the North York Moors.
The North York Moors National Park Authority works with a wide variety of people to care for this beautiful corner of Yorkshire, providing apprenticeships and volunteering opportunities with nearly 14% of staff being apprentices from local families.
Last updated: 16 Sep 2026