MORE than 150 ancient sites and listed buildings in Ryedale are being neglected, and they are at risk of serious decay if action is not taken within the next three years.

These are the finding of a report by English Heritage, published yesterday, as they launched the 2009 Heritage at Risk register and the Conservation Areas at Risk campaign.

It is hoped the campaign will get residents, local groups and councils working together to preserve these special places before it is too late.

Conservation experts say that within Ryedale, 138 Scheduled Ancient Monuments, 12 Grade I and II listed buildings and 2 registered gardens are at risk.

Among those named are Coneysthorpe, Castle Howard, and Gilling Castle near Ampleforth.

Other sites include a Stone circle on Harland Moor, Lime Kilns on the A170 near Allerston, and two sections of Roman road on Flamborough Rigg, near Pickering.

According to the report, all these have deteriorated over the last three years or are expected to do so over the next three years. Neil Redfern of English Heritage said that preserving these sites was important to the future of Ryedale.

He said: “Ryedale is one of the richest areas in the country for archaeology, and what we find here is of national importance.

“It is shows a very similar pattern to the landscape of Wessex, around Stonehenge, in that there are hundreds of listed buildings, gardens, and many burial urns dating back 4,000 years.

“If we can do more to preserve it for future generations, we will protect both the tourism industry and very identity of North Yorkshire.”

Mr Redfern said that one of the main dangers for buried archaeology was modern farming.

He said: “As the ploughs used by farmers get bigger and heavier, they reach down further into the soil and often cause damage.”

In order to protect these vulnerable ancient sites, English Heritage has recently been working with some farms, such as the Birdsall Estate near Wharram Percy, to provide grants to support farmers to leave the areas out of direct cultivation.

A number of Ryedale tourist attractions were also singled out by the report.

Describing Castle Howard, English Heritage said: “Key building and structures in the landscape are in need of consolidation and repair.

“Sections of the grand approach avenue have over-mature trees in need of replacement.”

The report also cites “Significant localised problems” in the gardens, designed between 1698 and 1738.

Castle Howard said it was working closely with English Heritage to draw up a conservation management plan.

A spokesperson said: “We have been on their buildings at risk register for a long time because the mausoleum, the mock fortifications and the pyramid are all in need of attention.

“We are working with English Heritage and Ryedale District Council to prioritise investment to work towards full restoration of the wider estate.

“Castle Howard spends six-figure sums annually on restoration and conservation across the estate.”

At another of Ryedale’s ‘At Risk’ areas, the 1,000-acre medieval park around Gilling Castle, work has already begun to minimise the damage to ancient structures.

English Heritage is working with Ampleforth Abbey Trust, St Martin’s Ampleforth, the Forestry Commission and the Howardian Hills AONB to produce a conservation management plan.