Bringing Moorland Knowledge to the Community

Questions about our uplands are often best explored through conversations with the people who work there. The Yorkshire Dales Moorland Group (YDMG) is inviting local groups to learn more about moorland management through illustrated talks, estate visits and bird safaris.

The invitation follows members’ attendance at a Curlew and Grouse Moors webinar hosted by the Biological Recording Company and instigated by the charity Curlew Action. Questions and comments from viewers prompted the group to remind people of the opportunities available to discuss upland conservation and the work of gamekeepers.

For YDMG, providing information and responding to questions is an important part of their role. Their presentations offer a chance to hear directly from those involved in managing upland estates, ask questions and explore the practical work taking place across the Dales.

Talks can cover the day-to-day responsibilities of gamekeepers or focus on particular conservation projects, including curlew head-starting and ospreys in Wensleydale. The group can tailor presentations to the interests of its audience and travel to venues within the Dales.

Outdoor visits and bird safaris offer another way to learn, bringing discussions about wildlife and land management into the landscapes themselves. They provide an opportunity to connect what people hear in a presentation with what they can see on the ground.

Where a venue is difficult for YDMG to reach, the group may be able to suggest a sister organisation within the wider moorland group network.

For community organisations and anyone curious about the uplands, these events offer a welcoming place to start a conversation. Interested groups are encouraged to contact YDMG to discuss a talk or visit.