This investment will ensure a significant boost for rural areas and provide long-term social, economic and environmental benefits. The landscapes, which together cover some 326 sq km include:

• The Dearne Valley in the eastern Pennine foothills between Barnsley, Rotherham and Doncaster where the natural environment comprises agricultural land and fragmented remains of wetlands, river valley habitats, grasslands and woodlands
• Upper Nidderdale dominated by the summit of Great Wernside that forms a watershed between Nidderdale and Wharfedale. To the west is heather moorland with rocky crags while farming is the main feature of the grassland plateau to the east of the moorland.

HLF’s Landscape Partnership (LP) programme - which has now been running for more than a decade - is the most significant grant scheme available for landscape-scale projects. To date, over £160m has been invested in 91 different areas across the UK helping forge new partnerships between public and community bodies and ensuring people are better equipped to understand and tackle the needs of their local landscapes.

Fiona Spiers, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund Yorkshire and the Humber, said: “Yorkshire’s amazing countryside is under ever-increasing pressure and we must act now to make sure it continues to be one of our greatest assets. This funding, made available through our Landscape Partnership programme, has helped forge strong local partnerships and secure the future of some of our most threatened landscapes. These schemes demonstrate a need for urgent conservation work to the natural and built heritage as well as reconnecting rural communities to these places. They are important on many levels, including being an integral part of our health and well-being and a significant contributor to the tourist economy.”

The Dearne Valley Landscape Partnership: Revealing the Hidden Dearne Valley – awarded HLF grant of £1.8million
The area covered by the project is 177 sq km and is rich in industrial, natural and cultural heritage but has become disconnected. The project will focus on unifying these aspects. The area contains numerous Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Local Wildlife Sites and Local Nature Reserves including the RSPB Old Moor wetlands nature reserve and visitor centre that attracts 100,000 visitors per year. On the cultural heritage side there is a strong identity arising from the history of coal mining and other heavy industry. The project will protect, restore and enhance the natural, cultural and industrial heritage. Walking and cycling trails will be improved and signage and information will be enhanced. Local communities will be able to get involved through learning and volunteer training programmes. The project is led by Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council.

Councillor Roy Miller, Cabinet Member for Development Environment and Culture, said: “Barnsley Council, along with all the partners are delighted to have secured this funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The Dearne Valley Landscape Partnership is an exciting and innovative opportunity for the Dearne Valley that will have a long term impact and benefits. It provides a great opportunity to work with the local communities across the Dearne to protect what is there and make more people aware of what a wonderful area this is.”

Upper Nidderdale Landscape Partnership Scheme – awarded HLF grant of £1.2million
The area covered by the project is 149 sq km and features a dramatic upland valley landscape with high moorland and grassland enclosed by drystone walls and dotted with gritstone farmsteads and barns. The project area forms part of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and its quality is recognised on both a national and European scale for its flora and fauna. It is strategically important for supporting bird populations that include merlin, golden plover and redshank. The moors also contain vast reserves of peat that help to reduce downstream flood risk. There are also remains of 19th-century mines and quarries. The project will help conserve the cultural heritage restoring features that include farm buildings; farmers will be encouraged to deliver habitat improvements alongside plans to boost their businesses restoring, creating and connecting wildflower meadows, moorland and woodland. Local communities will be involved through training and volunteer programmes, visitor trails created and outreach work will tap into schools and urban communities in Leeds and Bradford. The project is led by Harrogate Borough Council.

Nigel Simms, the chair of the Upper Nidderdale Landscape Partnership, said: “The partnership is delighted to receive this award from HLF, which will enable us to invest in Upper Nidderdale’s natural and historic environment. Just as importantly, it will also allow us to increase opportunities for people to find out more about Upper Nidderdale’s special landscape. After several years of development work, all of the organisations involved are very excited about getting our projects started.”

Notes to editors

HLF’s Landscape Partnerships are helping bring together members of the community as well as local, regional, and national organisations to deliver schemes which benefit some of the UK’s most outstanding landscapes and rural communities. Grants range from £100,000 to £3m.

Further information

HLF Press Office: Phil Cooper 07889 949 173 or Vicky Wilford on 020 7591 6046, email: vickyw@hlf.org.uk.

The Dearne Valley Landscape Partnership: Richard King, Landscape Partnership Development Officer, Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council on 01226 772 131, email: richardking@barnsley.gov.uk.

Upper Nidderdale Landscape Partnership: Iain Mann, Landscape Partnership Development Officer, Nidderdale AONB on 01423 712 950, email: iain.mann@harrogate.gov.uk.