A CONSERVATION project run in the Yorkshire Dales National Park has won a regional award – for the second year running.

The Limestone Country Project – a five-year, joint venture involving the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA), Natural England, the EU LIFE-nature fund, the National Trust and other partners took first place as the best Environmental Project in the Yorkshire Rural Awards, which are organised by The Dalesman magazine.

The project, which ended earlier this year, aimed to restore the internationally-important limestone habitats within the National Park by recruiting Dales farmers to return to mixed livestock grazing using native cattle breeds.

The awards, backed by leading Yorkshire companies and senior business people, are the only family of accolades devoted exclusively to the Yorkshire countryside and have been set up to highlight the people and businesses leading its rural revival.

The project was the brainchild of Tim Thom, the YDNPA’s Senior Wildlife Conservation Officer, and Paul Evans, Senior Reserves Manager with Natural England.

The project’s latest success was announced at a gala dinner in Harrogate, hosted by author Gervase Phinn.

Tim said: “This is a fantastic achievement that we are all proud of. The award is recognition of the partnership with the farmers in the limestone areas of the Dales – it’s as much for them as it is for us.

“The project is over now but it has laid the foundations for farmers to work once again with traditional breeds of cattle in the uplands for many years to come.”

Paul said: "This is fantastic recognition for a project that has required close collaboration from a range of partners over the past five years. The Limestone Country Project has shown how special landscapes like the Yorkshire Dales can be successfully managed for their wildlife, whilst also realising additional long term environmental and economic benefits."

Paul Jackson, editor of The Dalesman, said: “The judges felt that the success of the Limestone Country Project had been a tremendous achievement bringing back hardy cattle to the upland pastures and is a tremendous boost not just to the landscape but to the heritage of the Dales – it is also a welcome addition to the economy.”

Tim received the award with Louise Williams, the former Limestone Country Project Officer, who worked with local farmers during the project to re-introduce traditional, hardy breeds of cattle to the limestone uplands around Ingleborough, Malham and Wharfedale, helping to restore 2,000 hectares of internationally important habitats.

Her work has already won her two awards – the Young Achievement Award category of the last year’s Yorkshire Rural Awards and the Ken Willson (correct) Award, set up by the Yorkshire Dales Society and the Craven branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England in memory of the Addingham campaigner who died in 2003. It aims to recognise the work of people under 30 who have made an important contribution to the Dales.