FARMERS and landowners in the North York Moors National Park have benefitted from grants worth £64,400 within the last year to restore hedges and dry-stone walls.

The funding, which came from the authority’s traditional boundary scheme (TBS), was used to help maintain the area’s key characteristics and has seen more than 2,600 square metres of dry stone wall restored and 2,330 metres of hedgerow regrown.

About 560 metres of hedgerow was also planted to help provide boundary markers and shelter for stock across the national park.

Cropton farmer Martin Dawson-Brown benefitted from a grant to help lay 194 metres of mixed hedgerow at Low Askew Farm. He said: “We feel the hedge is a key feature on the farm, so were very pleased to get the grant from the National Park Authority.”

It is one of a number of hedges we have planted over the years – all with wildlife in mind by choosing species that produce berries for birds.”

Brian Hope, of High House Farm, near Sutton Bank also received funding to restore 260 metres of dry stone wall and said that since the walls restoration, many walkers had commented on how attractive it looked.

The National Park Authority is hoping to offer the TBS grants again to help with the cost of rebuilding more dry-stone walls and restoring hedges.

Kirsty Brown, conservation project assistant at the park said: “In addition to supporting our local farms and benefitting wildlife, up keeping our walls and hedges has an economic element too in making the area more appealing to visitors.”

“The National Park Authority is keen therefore to do what it can to continue to support these traditional boundaries.”

For more information on the grants, Visit northyorkmoors.org.uk/tbs