FOR many, the North York Moors is all about the beautiful and varied landscape, but the picturesque villages are an equally important part of the National Park and are often where people stay or head to for refreshments after a day walking the moors.

In addition to being real honey pots that attract a large amount of visitors, our villages are also living working communities. To create a good impression of the National Park and the wider area and to build on existing feelings of pride in our communities, the North York Moors National Park Authority introduced a village caretaker scheme seven years ago to provide assistance in keeping villages and towns looking lovely.

To date, the scheme has provided employment for caretakers in Helmsley, Ampleforth, Thornton-le-Dale, Hutton-le-Hole, Osmotherley, Rosedale and Danby (which also covers Westerdale and Commondale). They are funded by the National Park Authority and the relevant parish council with contributions in some instances from local businesses, North Yorkshire County Council’s highways department and Ryedale District Council.

The caretakers play an invaluable role in keeping the village looking neat and tidy, and are involved in a vast range of activities that are decided by the communities they serve. Their duties include cutting the grass, picking up litter, making sure that streams and gutters are free of debris that may cause flooding, and carrying out improvements.

To enable more communities to benefit from the assistance of a caretaker, the North York Moors, Coast & Hills LEADER programme is offering funding to help get schemes off the ground.

Parishes interested in finding out more are also invited to attend an information evening at Hutton Buscel Village Hall, 5.30pm on Wednesday or at Ingleby Greenhow Village Hall, 7.30pm on Thursday, July 8. For more information email leader@ northyorkmoors-npa.gov.uk or call 01439-770657.

● By Mike Horrocks, North York Moors National Park, LEADER programme manager.