We were delighted to join an alliance of National Park Societies and campaigning organisations, including Campaign for National Parks (CNP) in a joint Declaration, calling on governments in England and Wales to give Protected Landscapes (National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty) their full backing in legislation. The statement was agreed at the National … Read more
A simple enough question and one which some of Yorkshire’s best environmental campaigners debated at our successful September 2022 conference… With drought, hosepipe bans and the large-scale discharge of sewage making the headlines for much of the summer, our conference debating the health of our country’s rivers, with a special emphasis on the River Wharfe, … Read more
The Devonshire Institute, Grassington, BD23 5AZ Free admission – booking essential – email Victoria Benn, stating the number of tickets you require. From peat to paddling – what constitutes a healthy river? Want to debate or discover what can and should be done to improve the health of our rivers? Then please join us and … Read more
Friends of the Dales welcomes the decision by Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority to publish all comments received in response to planning applications on its official Citizen Portal planning website. Wilf Fenten, Deputy Chair of Friends of the Dales said “We have been lobbying for our comments, and those of other interested parties who are … Read more
In the week that ‘peatbog’ won gold at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, our Peatlands campaign #MoorPeat went live. Kicking off the launch was a digital talk by Jenny Sharman from Yorkshire Peat Partnership (YPP) who returned to tell us the story of the restoration of three Yorkshire Dales moors that are close to her … Read more
It’s great to see the Government take on board much of our collective input, as put forward on behalf of all the national park societies by the Campaign for National Parks (CNP) to help shape the recent and long awaited Landscapes Review. But, without legislation to underpin the ambition, the proposals fall short of what … Read more
With our Peatlands Policy now written and available to view, we are looking forward to launching our Peatlands Campaign, #MoorPeat next month. The Yorkshire Dales peatlands cover 42% of the National Park and are nationally and internationally important for their fauna, flora and for their carbon – stored in the form of peat. It has … Read more
Campaign for National Parks, Friends of the Dales, Friends of the South Downs and nine other National Park Societies have joined forces to call for a ban on plastic tree guards. The campaign coincides with a Defra call for evidence over problematic single-use plastics – which the National Parks campaigners have responded to, highlighting the ongoing issue … Read more
The Friends of the Dales YouTube Channel is now live. There are several videos now available offering viewers a chance to re-watch favourite Friends of the Dales digital talks or enjoy them for the first time. Discover more about Yorkshire Dales peatland restoration from Yorkshire Peat Partnership, get insight into the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust’s nature … Read more
The biologist, nature writer and campaigner, Dr Amy-Jane Beer is the new voluntary, honorary President of our charity. North Yorkshire based Amy-Jane, has written more than 30 books about science and natural history including Cool Nature and A Tree a Day. She is also a Country Diarist for The Guardian newspaper, columnist for British Wildlife … Read more