A CLAPHAM-BASED charity has won a grant of more than £500,000 towards its conservation works in the Dales.

The Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust has been given a grant of £527,500 towards phase one of a three-year project entitled Dales Living Landscape, which aims to conserve and protect the heritage of the Dales and promote public access and understanding.

The grant has been given by the Heritage Lottery Fund, which says that funding on the same level had been earmarked for the second and third years of the project.

It added the support would be given provided the project was developed along agreed lines.

Iain Oag, director of the trust, told the Herald this week: "We expect the overall programme for the first year to cost over £1 million and this grant will provide 54 per cent of that."

He added: "Obviously, we are delighted with the news, because it confirms that we will be able to continue the work that we have been so proud of over the last four years, for the next three years."

Mr Oag said the work would concentrate on things the local community and national park wanted to do in conjunction with the trust's partners including English Nature, English Heritage, the Forestry Commission and the Environment Agency, which are all co-funders.

He added: "You could essentially say we will be spending £3 million over the next three years on projects in the Dales."

The grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund will enable the Trust to conserve the outstanding natural heritage of the Dales, its woods, wetlands, moorland and limestone pavement as well as its outstanding built heritage.

Support will also be offered to a number of small projects that will impact on the conservation of the landscape as well as provide jobs.

Ray Taylor, Heritage Lottery Fund regional manager, speaking about all the projects which had received funding, said: "These are all projects that take positive approaches to conserving nationally important landscapes and traditional methods while also educating local people and visitors about their importance.

"By improving and widening access and encouraging new groups to visit the countryside, more people can enjoy the fantastic scenery and health benefits that the region has to offer."