VOLUNTEERS from communities in Keighley and Bradford will be out in the Yorkshire Dales National Park at the weekend helping to improve the landscape around Malham Cove.

The Community Champion scheme has gone from strength to strength and, even though the actual Mosaic Partnership project has ended, they are still keen to promote the National Park where they live and to get more members of their communities to visit it.

Catherine Kemp - Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority

About 20 Community Champions from a project aimed at encouraging inner city residents to enjoy the UK’s national parks will be planting trees at the cove on Saturday.

The nationwide Mosaic Partnership, run by the Council for National Parks, was a £1 million project aimed at developing links between people from black and minority ethnic communities and four national park authorities – the Yorkshire Dales, the Peak District, the North York Moors and the Brecon Beacons.

Around 120 Community Champion volunteers were recruited across England and Wales to spread the word about national parks throughout urban areas, to lead groups themselves and to inspire others to visit these special places.

Catherine Kemp, Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority’s Outreach Officer, said: “The Community Champion scheme has gone from strength to strength and, even though the actual Mosaic Partnership project has ended, they are still keen to promote the National Park where they live and to get more members of their communities to visit it.

“At the weekend they will be planting ash saplings in an area where there are a few already and I hope they will be bringing members of their families along too.”