DIVERSE and interesting events took place on Ilkley Moor last week, organised by the Friends of Ilkley Moor.

Starting with another practical conservation day in habitat management and footpath conservation, where participants helped clear more overgrown vegetation from the outlet pipes, bank side and outlet stream of the lower tarn. This work will ensure a clear view of the hydrology of the tarn, so that the outlet flow can be monitored to check that the outlet flow of water is effectively draining from the lower tarn.

The second event explored the different management practices used to manage the uplands. Participants looked at the history of management in the uplands and current popular practices which include: vegetation burning and cutting, drainage, legal (and illegal) predator control, livestock grazing (mainly sheep) and managing the uplands for grouse shooting.

Tracy Gray, FOIM Project Officer said: "We then explored options for change, looking at different management practices and potential use of government subsidies. Ones which can optimize the full breadth of the biodiversity and ecosystem services which are part of an upland environment, are economically viable, include recreation and which minimize the impact on the wider landscape. Impacts like flood management, carbon storage and archaeological preservation. We looked at the possibility of developing a research project to explore different options for managing the uplands and whether it is possible to apply these to Ilkley Moor.

"The last event was the very popular and fun Nordic Fitness Walk, led by Sabine Flugel. Nordic Walking is a total body version of walking. It is a specific fitness technique which uses two poles in order to add two major benefits to walking: the use of poles means the upper body muscles are used as well as the legs and also the poles help to propel the walker along – this means he/she works harder than usual yet the support given by the poles makes it feel easier! This can be enjoyed both by non-athletes and by athletes as a sport. Everyone had a great time on the walk."

The events programme and heritage walks can be downloaded from the FOIM website www.ilkleymoor.org