ECOLOGISTS from Otley have been carrying out a major survey in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

Haycock & Jay Associates were commissioned to assess the condition of up to four thousand hectares of sensitive sites in those parts of Cumbria and Lancashire that became part of the Park in 2016.

The firm, which has offices on Boroughgate, began the work in May has been focusing on vital habitats that include upland hay meadows, native woodland and blanket bog.

The survey was commissioned by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA) and its results will be made public next year.

YDNPA Senior Wildlife Conservation Officer Tony Serjeant, who is overseeing the study, said: "It is exciting that for the first time we are taking a close look at the state of the most important habitats in the newest parts of the National Park.

"These areas have not been surveyed in this way before, so we are breaking new ground.

"I would like to thank all the farmers and landowners who have permitted us access onto their land.

"We are confident that they will benefit as all the data collected can be made available to them to aid their decision-making.

"It can be used, too, to support agri-environment scheme applications and other bids for funding."

The survey is part of a 10-year programme, which ends in 2020, to assess the condition of priority habitats - other than Sites of Special Scientific Interest - across the Park.