One of the Bradford district's most popular beauty spots will have its landscape and environment enhanced by a new Government body.

The pledge to improve Ilkley Moor was made yesterday by the new boss of a body set up to safeguard the UK's countryside.

Dr Helen Phillips, who will become the chief executive of Natural England in October, visited the moor around the Cow and Calf rocks to see how schemes had already been set up to improve the area's environment.

Natural England will be formed out of three existing agencies: English Nature, the landscape, access and recreation department of the Countryside Agency and part of the Rural Development Service.

It will be responsible for conserving, enhancing and managing the natural environment.

Dr Phillips said Ilkley Moor was "a fantastic example of how Natural England will bring together the management of fabulous landscapes, the public's enjoyment of them through recreation and all the important objectives for more wildlife".

She was shown around a proposed area of the moor where landowners and farmers will work together to maintain and enhance the quality and character of the landscape under a Higher Level Scheme Environmental Stewardship agreement.

Under this landowners will receive payments based upon the environmental work they carry out.

Dr Phillips said the new body would be able to co-ordinate and target funding more efficiently although it would not in itself have more money available to help Bradford Council's countryside service which looks after much of the moor.

She said: "We are going to have an opportunity to look at the environment in a much more integrated way.

"I am not sure it is about Natural England bringing more money to the pot. What we are focussed on is having control of more streamlined funding schemes."

Danny Jackson, of Bradford Council's countryside service, said he would be grateful for any increased funding for the moor.

Mr Jackson said: "What we are looking at with Natural England is a merger of three agencies each with its own pot of money and it is about tying them together and integrating funding streams for the benefit of Ilkley."

During her visit, Dr Phillips met moor landowners, Bradford Council officials and officials from Yorkshire Water.

Martyn Howat, English Nature's north east regional director, said: "I welcome the prospect of moors land managers employing new approaches to the running of their farming and sporting enterprises and building further on the valuable contribution they have already been making to England's farming and wildlife."

Hazel Thomas, Yorkshire regional director of the Countryside Agency, said: "Ilkley Moor is a major recreational resource for the people of Ilkley, Bradford, Keighley and beyond. It is easily accessible and widely recognised.

"As Natural England, we will work together in new ways with partners, land managers and local people to encourage greater enjoyment of the moors and promote better understanding of their natural, cultural and historical importance.

"By managing access and recreation in a more co-ordinated way, Natural England will provide major new benefits for wildlife, landscapes and people."