More than 60 delegates from all over the Yorkshire region have got together to discuss ways of protecting important species and habitats in the Yorkshire Dales.

They met at a conference in Middleham hosted by the Yorkshire Dales Biodiversity Forum, which is made up of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA), Government agencies, local history societies, academics and individuals.

The aim of the conference was to look at ways of hitting the targets that will be set in the new Local Biodiversity Action Plan – a document entitled 'Nature in the Dales 2020 Vision'. A draft of the plan – which details the actions needed to conserve the most important species and habitats in the Dales – is currently out for consultation.

The delegates represented a wide range of organisations involved with the biodiversity of the Dales ranging from the Salmon & Trout Association and the Craven Badger Group to the National Trust and Natural England.

YDNPA Wildlife Conservation Officer Mark Hewitt said: “The feedback to date has been very positive, with people commenting on the success of the format and the amount of progress made in the discussion groups.