New funding scheme for North Yorks Moors

A small scale enhancement scheme for villages and communities in the North York Moors National Park has been established to provide funding for regeneration and environmental projects up to the value of £5,000.

The Scheme, a subsidiary to the North York Moors Coast & Hills LEADER Programme, has £150,000 to spend on rural development projects between now and December 2011.

Projects need to have community support and fall into one of two themes:

• Village renewal and development – aimed at projects that enhance the local village environment, strengthen and generate community cohesion or encourage community activities and village events.
• Conservation and upgrading of the rural heritage – aimed at increasing the understanding of the working landscape and helping to protect traditional skills by raising awareness through interpretation, appreciation and maintenance of local heritage and cultural features.

Successful projects will be implemented by the North York Moors National Park Authority with responsibility reverting back to the owner or parish once the work has been completed.

Clair Shields, the Small Scale Enhancement Scheme Coordinator, said:

“Parish plans often highlight a wish list of small scale improvement projects that don’t get off the ground due to a lack of time, skills, guidance or the financial resources to develop them further. The Scheme provides a fantastic opportunity to implement these ideas benefiting communities and the wider National Park.”

To find out more about the Scheme or to discuss an idea, contact Clair Shields or Rebecca Thompson on 01439 770657 or email ssescheme@northyorkmoors-npa.gov.uk

The North York Moors, Coast and Hills LEADER Programme is a partnership of local organisations, community groups and individuals who have secured £3.1 million in total from Defra and the European Union through Yorkshire Forward and One North East as part of the Rural Development Programme for England.

Interpretation panels installed at Carlisle Cathedral

Visitors to  Carlisle Cathedral can learn more about this twelfth century building and it’s history thanks to new interpretation panels and a scale model.

Interpretation panel outside the Fratry

Funded in part by The North West Development Agency, the five panels and 1:16th  scale model of the Cathedral help chart the history of the second smallest cathedral in the country.

Some of the panels are mounted on columns set into stone from nearby Lazonby.  These are set at a wheelchair user and child friendly height.

A bronze model, mounted on a stone plinth depicts the site as it would have looked in 1540.

Carlisle City Council Planning Application -

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