ARE you young and passionate about the countryside? Then the North York Moors National Park Authority needs you.

Young people are being sought by the National Park bosses to join a special team of volunteer recruits.

The authority is recruiting people aged 11 to 17 to join the "Young Rangers" group which meets once a month to carry out a range of conservation work in the moors.

This includes practical tasks such as bracken bashing, habitat management, and tree planting, while those in their late teens can also be offered greater responsibility to help them gain leadership skills for future work places.

Mary-Jane Alexander, youth engagement officer, said: “We aim to provide our Young Rangers with both highly enjoyable and rewarding activities that are something very different to what they might do on an average weekend.”

Attending the sessions can allow young people to work towards initiatives such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award or scouting and guiding badges. The National Park Authority also supports participants in achieving a John Muir Award.

To learn more, contact m.alexander@northyorkmoors.org.uk or 01439-772700.