Dales: facts and figures

Habitats in the dales of the Yorkshire Dales National Park

The table below lists the broad habitat types that are typical of the dales of the Yorkshire Dales National Park with the total are of the National Park each type covers and the importance of each one in terms of biodiversity

A larger version of this table can be downloaded in the Document downloads box.

National and International biodiversity importance

The following table (downloadable in the Documents downloads box) lists the national and international importance of dales habitats in the Yorkshire Dales National Park:

National importance is simply defined as those habitats that have, or will have, Habitat Action Plans in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. International importance is defined as those habitats listed in Annex I of the European Habitats & Species Directive 92/43/EEC which sets out those habitats in need of conservation and protection in the European Community area.

Current issues, opportunities and threats to biodiversity in the dales of the National Park

As with much of the National Park, the biodiversity value of the dales has declined significantly over the last 50 years due to a substantial increase in sheep grazing levels and the associated intensification of farming practice. Continuous grazing, inorganic fertiliser application, cutting for silage are all detrimental to biodiversity in the dales. More recently, however, attempts have been made to slow the decline in diversity through more sustainable management carried out by farmers using incentives from environmental land management schemes such as the Environmental Stewardship Scheme and other previous schemes for example, the Countryside Stewardship, Environmentally Sensitive Areas and Wildlife Enhancement Schemes. These schemes are now all administered by Natural England. Some habitats, particularly, hay meadows continue to decline despite these efforts and further actions are needed if we are to retain the characteristic dales meadows for future generations to enjoy. The decline in these habitats may also be partially responsible for typical dales species such as the yellow wagtail.

Woodland habitats in the dales of the National Park have declined as a result of a combination of neglect, inappropriate management and grazing pressure from livestock and rabbits. This decline is being reversed through the use of incentives to landowners such as the Woodland Grant Scheme administered by the Forestry Commission and grants from the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust.

In recognition of the national and international importance of the upland hay meadows of the Yorkshire Dales the majority of the cranesbill meadows have been proposed as the North Pennine Dales Meadows Special Area for Conservation under European Law. This designation will lead to better protection of important habitats through legislation and co-operative working with land owners and managers.

Increased use of the countryside for recreation can be ecologically damaging due footpath erosion, trampling and the physical damage caused by large numbers of people together with disturbance to wildlife particularly during the breeding season. There are, however, considerable benefits in enabling managed access to the countryside for the full cross-section of the human community as it provides an opportunity to educate and raise awareness of biodiversity and countryside issues. Conserving biodiversity is very dependent on the support of a well-informed human community with a sense of belonging and a genuine involvement in the process.