Yorkshire Dales goes nationwide

Grassington, 27 September, 2004.

Wildlife in the Yorkshire Dales National Park is highlighted by Alan Titchmarsh in a BBC TV series starting on Wednesday (September 29).

British Isles: A Natural History examines the evolution of the UK by looking at unique features of different parts of the country.

The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority was invited to take part because of the vital work it undertakes in protecting the landscape and its flora and fauna and because it has first class examples of the way nature re-colonises industrial sites.

On November 3 Authority ecologist Tim Thom will be featured in the sixth programme called Revolution, which examines the ways in which nature has claimed back heavily industrialised sites like the Hoffman lime kiln at Langcliffe –now the home of several different species of bats and wildflowers – Salt Lake Quarry, with its wonderful display of Birds-eye Primroses, and Ribblehead Quarry, where nature is just starting to re-colonise.

Tim said: “Lime production was a major industry of the Dales for many years and it was probably one of the most devastating industries there was from an ecological point of view. But wildlife has crept back, making these sites of great natural interest now.”

Then, in a programme called Modern Times on November 10, Authority Limestone Country Project officer Louise Williams will explain how a unique scheme to introduce traditional breeds of cattle into the Dales is helping to save the flora and fauna.