Farndale gets spruce up in time for daffodil spectacular

Farndale locals teamed up with the North York Moors National Park Authority’s Make a Difference volunteers and staff to get stuck into some habitat management work along the area's renowned daffodil walk.

A cut above ... local resident Sally Potter and volunteer
 Dawn Rothwell cutting back willow and alder trees.

A wet grassland site – known locally as the ‘duck pond’ – on the walk to the north of Low Mill, had become overgrown with willow and alder trees.

Trees were pruned and the cut wood was used to make twiggy bundles and stakes which will be installed along a stretch of riverbank in the same area to help prevent erosion.

Farm conservation adviser
Sally Weightman.

Natural England consent was required before the work could take place as the area concerned is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest due to the diversity of habitats and plant species in the area including the wild daffodil.

The national park authority's farm conservation adviser, Sally Weightman, said: "It was nice to see a variety of age groups represented by those people involved in the work tasks.

"The assistance of both members of the local community and volunteers was greatly appreciated and it is hoped that local community involvement will continue with further work projects in the future.”

Farndale resident, Sally Potter, said: "We wanted to mark the Diamond Jubilee celebrations in some way and felt this would give year round pleasure to both locals and visitors to the Dale."

More than 50,000 people visit Farndale each year during the daffodil season. To keep congestion on the narrow roads to a minimum, the national park authority runs a daffodil shuttle bus from Hutton-le-Hole car park to several stops along the walk.

This year the bus will operate on Sundays from 25 March to 15 April plus Good Friday, Easter Saturday and Easter Monday. Timetables will shortly be available at www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/moorsbus or people can call 01439 770657.