PROJECTS to protect the upland landscapes of the Yorkshire Dales, their wildlife and flora, have been singled out for special praise by the government quango Natural England.

Some 13,000 hectares of moorland and fell in the Dales have benefitted from Higher Level Stewardship agreements, under which hill farmers receive grants for using traditional methods like growing hay rather than silage, reducing the amount of artificial fertiliser, and repairing dry stone walls, says NE chairman Sir Martin Doughty in a statement issued to day.

It is part of a national survey of English Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), which claims that 82.7% of these areas were in a “favourable or recovering condition.”

But he added: ““Whilst the natural environment is stabilising within designated sites, the same cannot be said for the wider environment. Early indications from our forthcoming State of the Natural Environment report show that the unprotected environment is not well equipped to deal with the threat of climate change, development, agricultural changes and other pressures - more has to be done to prepare and adapt to these issues."