DIARIES kept by a local botany enthusiast have been turned into a book which will help safeguard precious flora and fauna.

Entitled A Flora of Craven, the book encompasses the work of botanist Joseph Norman Frankland in the 1950s, whose notes and diaries detailed the flora and fauna within 15 miles of Settle.

Mr Frankland was born at Middlesber on a farm between Lawkland and Austwick. After leaving school he became a woodworker in Ingleton and later moved into Chapel house at Horton-in-Craven.

Apart from his livelihood as a craftsman, Mr Frankland enjoyed walking and botany and became a member of Skipton Craven Naturalists' group. It was there that he met Elizabeth Shorrock, of Settle, who shared his interest in botany.

When Mr Frankland died in 1995 at the age of 91, he left his diaries and notes - which he had always hoped to write up into a book - to Mrs Shorrock.

His research ended in 1950 and includes information about species of rare flowers and where they were found.

Mrs Shorrock held on to the diaries and approached the North Craven Heritage Trust, which agreed to publish the research in a book.

The valuable information has already been used to safeguard some of the rare flowers found in the area.

For example, the Ladies Slipper Orchid became so rare that only one was still in existence throughout the whole country.

The plant was previously found in the 15-mile radius of Settle and English Nature, in conjunction with Kew Gardens, used Mr Frankland's notes to help reproduce the flower.

Thanks to his notes it has now been planted back in its original site.

Without his research there would have been no knowledge of where the orchid once grew in such abundance.

Mrs Shorrock told the Herald she was thankful to the North Craven Heritage Trust for publishing the book.

Without such important records and historical diaries, there would be nothing for conservation groups such as English Nature to consult, she said

"I just wish Norman had been able to see it all happen," she added.

The book can be purchased at Speight and Watson newsagents in Settle or from Mrs Shorrock at 7 East View, Settle, North Yorkshire, BD24 9AU. It is priced at £8.95.