Data on nature in National Parks shows urgent need for change
The UK Government has released official data on the state of nature in England’s Protected Landscapes, marking a big step forward in understanding how these special places are faring.
From rolling hills to striking waterfalls and unique limestone formations, the Yorkshire Dales are a special landscape shaped by human and natural activities. Dotted with distinctive drystone walls, field barns and charming towns and villages, the Dales comprise a variety of semi-natural habitats including patchwork farmland, moorland and meadows.
The Park is vital for many limestone-loving plants and the wildlife they support. Over a quarter of England’s upland hay meadows are found in the Dales, providing a home for nationally important populations of ground nesting birds like the black grouse, alongside rare orchids and other grassland species.
