IT IS perhaps apt that in the International Year of Biodiversity, we have had two exciting discoveries here in the North York Moors National Park.

The first came in April, with the news that scientists from Leeds University had discovered Alcathoe’s bat in woodland in the national park – one of only two places in the UK where this tiny mammal has been spotted.

More recent was the good news that a pair of Montagu’s harriers had successfully fledged at least three chicks. It has been 50 years since this rare raptor has bred in the North York Moors and we are keeping fingers crossed that they return next year.

With three months of the year left, perhaps we’ll make it a hat-trick by finally being able to prove that the elusive pine marten is at large in the area.

If you’re interested in finding out more about the biodiversity of the North York Moors, an overview of the area’s habitats and species can be found at northyorkmoors.org. uk/ biodiversity-action-plan. As a taster, here are a few reasons why the North York Moors is so important for biodiversity:

● The heather moorland is the largest inland site of special scientific interest in the country.

In addition, it is a European special protection area for its merlin and golden plover populations and is renowned as a haven for ground-nesting birds such as red grouse.

● We have one of the largest concentrations of ancient and veteran trees in the North.

● The River Esk is the only river in Yorkshire and one of only seven in the UK that contains a population of the endangered freshwater pearl mussel. These fascinating invertebrates can live to 100.

● The North York Moors is home to the northernmost colony of the Duke of Burgundy butterfly in Britain. Conversely, we are the southernmost place in Britain where you can see dwarf cornel, a plant more commonly found in the Highlands of Scotland.