Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust's Previous Schemes
Dales EnviroNet
The Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust was formed in 1997 after receiving a grant of £4 million from the Millennium Commission to help fund environmental projects throughout the Dales. Working with statutory agencies, local authorities, local groups and local people the Trust completed 347 projects under the Dales EnviroNet scheme, in 2001.
Listed below are some statistics achieved by the scheme:
- Planted 90Ha New Native Broad-leaved Woodland
- Regenerated 245Ha of existing woodland
- Rebuilt 29km Dry-stone walls
- Repaired 25 Field Barns
- Restored 112 Historical Features
- Upgraded 25 Public Access Routes
- Replaced 30 River Crossings
- Created or enhanced 34 Wildlife Habitats
- Renewed 24 Visitor Sites
- Improved 29 Village Environments
- Rejuvenated 22 Community Buildings
- Built 2 new Community Buildings
- Refurbished 3 Environmental Education Centres
- Implemented 21 Undergrounding Schemes
- Secured £4 274 560 co-funding
Dales Living Landscape
In 2001 the Trust received a further grant of £1.5 million from Heritage Lottery Fund to continue to help fund environmental and heritage projects throughout the Dales. In 2004 the Dales Living Landscape programme was completed and a further 147 individual projects under this scheme.
These included: impressive new plantings at the Hawes above Settle and Witton Fell in Wensleydale, and spectacular gillsides such as Buckden Beck in Wharfedale and Gunnerside Wood in Swaledale. Equally important to local communities were small woods for example; in Malham, Jubilee Wood in Sedbergh or St Mary's Churchyard in Ingleton. 15000 metres of drystone walls were repaired including long sections flanking the famous Settle-Carlisle railway. 16 of the most architecturally important barns were repaired. Ancient routes were revived from Starbotton over to Arncliffe, winding up Artengill and Gunnerside Gill, and high across Mastiles Lane with its evocative Roman marching camp. The Three Peaks enthusiasts' way up Ingleborough from Chapel-le-dale was upgraded and many more projects besides.
Rural Economic Recovery Plan (RERP)
In 2001, rural areas were devastated by the 'Foot and Mouth' epidemic. The Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust, in conjunction with Craven District Council, Richmondshire District Council and Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), secured £200 k of grant aid to help fund rural recovery in the area. The monies assisted the rural economy in recovering from the impact of the Foot and Mouth epidemic in the short term but also intended to aid longer term recovery initiatives.
With the funds received from the Yorkshire Forward Rural Recovery Programme YDMT enabled and managed a programme of 45 projects across 12 different categories to be delivered. These included woodland projects (3), river corridor projects (1), community schemes (5), built heritage projects (2), access projects (9), training programmes (1) and 'Welcome Back Events' (11). With an average RERP grant of 47% offered to applicants the attraction of further funds increased the scope of many projects.
Dales Education & Heritage Training
The aim of this programme was to raise awareness, understanding and skills supporting conservation of the Yorkshire Dales landscape. It helped local businesses benefit from heritage conservation funding; taught skills which lead to jobs in harmony with the local environment; developed the potential of volunteers; provided learning experiences for groups under-represented in their use of the area; and developed links between training providers and employers. Between August 2002 and April 2004 some 2,500 people of all ages and backgrounds benefited from 25,000 hours of education related to the Dales Living Landscape. The project was the forerunner to our current Traineeships scheme and award winning Learning in Limestone Country project.
Dales Countryside Apprenticeships
The Dales Countryside Apprenticeships and Graduate Traineeships were aimed at helping young people stay living and working in the area by acquiring new skills and experience. Working for YDMT, they were placed with a variety of organisations such as English Nature, the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority and Bolton Abbey Estate. This work continues through our new Traineeships.
