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Raydale Project
- Introduction
- Biodiversity Action Plan
- Habitats
- Species
- Wildlife surveys
- Best places to see wildlife
- Wildlife projects
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- Bats under the Dales
- Craven Conservation Group
- Hay Time Project
- Juniper Conservation
- Limestone Country Project
- Malham Peregrine Watch
- Malham Tarn Project
- North Pennines Black Grouse Recovery Project
- Parish Wildlife Project
- Raydale Project
- Red Squirrel Conservation
- Ribble Crayfish Conservation and Breeding Facility
- Yorkshire Dales Road Verge Project
- Completed Action Plans
Why was there a need for the project?
Raydale is a small valley that has it all, forestry, dairy, beef, sheep, moors, nature reserves, one of only two glacial lakes in Yorkshire, a good number of gills and streams and one of England's shortest rivers, the Bain. The dale has an active farming community that contains knowledge stemming from generations of land management. As with all land in the UK there are pressures and conflicts for space which has resulted in a number of issues that the Raydale project has been trying to address.
What are the project's aims?
This community-led projects aims to tackle issues related to climate change and the artifical drainage of the moors which has led to erosion and deposition of sediment which degrades riverine habitats. The project has a whole river catchment approach.
What has the project achieved so far?
Work has concentrated on reducing silt and diffuse pollution particularly in the core area around the Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) Semerwater. Three eroding gills, one in each headwater, have been fenced and planted with trees favoured by black grouse, a fourth naturally wooded gill has been fenced to encourage regeneration. A kilometre of bankside has been planted with indigenous willows as a buffer strip below silage fields. This planting forms a continuous tree corridor between the lake and Bain Gill and gives valuable food and cover to fish. Bankside fencing elsewhere protects a feeder stream from cattle trampling and has been botanically enhanced by salvaging plants from the willow-planting exercise. Linear woodland and wood pasture above the lake completes a tree corridor and will reconnect surface water to ground water thus slowing run off and reducing silt. A small area of flood damaged meadow has been planted with willows and alder.
Future plans include the development of a small hydro-electric scheme which may provide a future income for Raydale and help them establish their own charity to support the community and land managers in future years. In addition, there are plans for the open drains on the moors to be blocked and heather restoration will be carried out. Lower down the dale catchment sensitive farming methods are being championed to ensure that farmers can achieve an income whilst also preserving the beauty and ecology of the dale and its streams.
Who is involved?
The Raydale community and the Yorkshire Rivers Trust.
Further information:
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Yorkshire Dales National Park
Garden tiger moth, © Whitfield Benson.
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