The 42nd AGM of Friends of the Dales took place on Saturday 26 September at the beautiful setting of Bolton Abbey Village Hall. As the newly appointed Executive Director, it was a wonderful opportunity to meet old and new members of Friends of the Dales. Firstly, it was wonderful that Honorary Membership was unanimously awarded to … Read more
Friends of the Dales is delighted to announce the appointment of Cailum Peers-Earley as our new Communications and Marketing Officer. Cailum has spent the last seven years working within marketing agencies, delivering integrated campaigns across digital, social, and print. With a background of multi-channel strategy, content creation, and campaign execution. A lifelong Yorkshire resident, Cailum … Read more
We are delighted to announce the appointment of Sophie Amos as our new Executive Director. Sophie brings more than 25 years of experience in the charitable sector, including eight years as CEO of two environmental education charities, Roots4Life and Creekside Discovery Centre. Earlier in her career, Sophie held senior leadership roles in fundraising, campaigning and … Read more
If you still in any doubt as to the true horror and scale of birds of prey persecution in the Yorkshire Dales and beyond, then we would encourage a read of the newly published RSPB Patterns of Persecution report 2026 – a species-based study of the illegal killing of birds of prey in the UK … Read more
Kestrels are a familiar sight, with their pointed wings and long tail, hovering beside a roadside verge. However, numbers of kestrels have declined since the 1970s, probably as a result of changes in farming, and so it is now included on the UK Birds of Conservation Concern Amber List. Alan Poxon, a professional kite maker … Read more
We have welcomed the conviction of 34-year-old former head gamekeeper Racster Dingwall at York Magistrates Court on Thursday 29 January, following his guilty plea for conspiring to kill a hen harrier on 2 October 2024. According to North Yorkshire Police[1] it is thought to be the first time a charge of encouraging or assisting an offence under the Serious … Read more
Our powerful, new campaign − Eyes on the Skies − calling for an end to criminal killing of birds of prey in the Yorkshire Dales is now live, launching with a free live webinar on Tuesday 21 October at 5:30 pm, featuring Kate Jennings, UK Head of Site Conservation & Species Policy at the RSPB. … Read more
Controversial proposals for a major leisure development on wetlands close to the Yorkshire Dales National Park boundary could have a devastating impact on important winter feeding grounds supporting large numbers of wading birds. Executive director of Friends of the Dales, Ann Shadrake finds hope in new legislation that will oblige planners to consider the special … Read more
A recent event in the Yorkshire Dales brought together 18 passionate young people aged 18–30, as part of the New Perspectives programme − a Heritage Lottery funded initiative run by Campaign for National Parks. This three-day residential in Malham, North Yorkshire, aimed to empower the next generation of national park leaders by focusing on leadership … Read more
An often-overlooked function of our small charity is its team of experienced (volunteer!) former planners and environmentalists who scrutinise all significant planning applications to the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA). Each year it comments, supports or objects on more than forty applications noting alignment (or not) with the YDNPA’s published policies, in particular those … Read more