[T]he annual celebration of wildflowers and nature in the Yorkshire Dales will soon be underway, as the Flowers of the Dales Festival celebrates its tenth anniversary.
Coordinated by local charity Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust (YDMT) and supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery, the Festival brings together 110 events taking place from March to October, led by passionate experts and enthusiasts across the region.
Now in its tenth year, more than 37,000 people have taken part so far in events that shine a light on the special habitats of the Yorkshire Dales; from traditionally-managed hay meadows and ancient woodlands, to heather-clad moors and limestone pavements.
The Festival aims to encourage people of all ages to discover the wonderful wildflowers of the Yorkshire Dales, and to gain an understanding of the careful management required to ensure that this special place can be enjoyed by wildlife and people in years to come.
15,000 copies of the 2018 Festival programme will be distributed across the region over the coming weeks and months.
YDMT’s Flowers of the Dales project officer, Leah Galloway, said: “Here in the Yorkshire Dales, we’re very lucky to have such a rich and vibrant landscape on our doorstep, home to an array of native flora and fauna. This year’s Festival celebrates it all, with events to suit all ages and interests. Choose from practical conservation and species identification days, guided walks, informative talks and family-friendly nature activities, as well as an exciting range of arts and crafts.”
Players of People’s Postcode Lottery have raised £1,626,332 for Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust to date, providing vital funding to support this and many other initiatives that sustain the landscape, environment, communities and economy of the Yorkshire Dales.
Clara Govier, Head of Charities at People’s Postcode Lottery said: “It’s a pleasure to support this annual Festival, which celebrates all things wild and wonderful in the Yorkshire Dales. Each year thousands of people take part in an exciting collection of activities inspired by nature. It’s a fantastic opportunity to explore the Yorkshire Dales and perhaps learn something new.”
YDMT would also like to pay special tribute to Miss J Watford, Mr K Waghorne, Mr R Jenkinson, Ms S Nixon, Miss E M Martin and Mr G Routledge whose generous legacies to YDMT have supported the 2018 Festival.
The free Flowers of the Dales Festival programme can be downloaded from www.ydmt.org/festival-2018. Or to receive a printed copy of the programme, please send an A5 stamped and self-addressed envelope to: Flowers of the Dales, Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust, Main Street, Clapham, Via Lancaster, LA2 8DP. Copies will also be available from National Park centres and other outlets across the Dales over the coming weeks and months.
