THE first Youth Forum Activity Day involving younger members of staff with the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority involved a walk around Malham, writes Suzannah Barningham, a member of the YDNPA Human Resources and Wildlife team.

Writing on the Authority’s blog, she explains Malham was chosen as the destination for the first activity day, allowing the team to learn more about the area.

She said: “The village of Malham in the Yorkshire Dales is a popular destination for visitors to the National Park – not only is it a typically attractive Dales village but it also offers some amazing karst – or limestone scenery: Malham Cove, limestone pavement and Gordale Scar.

“The aim of the activity day was to get some of the Authority’s younger staff together to discuss issues affecting young people who live and work in the Park, and to learn more about Malham and the surrounding area.

“The day started with a talk by Laura Parker, one of the information advisors at Malham National Park Centre. She gave us an informative talk about the history of the Centre, and what sort of queries the centre staff get from visitors and locals. Most people are visiting for the scenery but a knowledge of the area is important as the information advisors need to be able to suggest a variety of routes depending on the abilities of the visitor.

“Afterwards, we had a walk up to the Cove with Ian Court, one of the National Park’s Wildlife Officers.The Cove is home to a pair of peregrine falcons who return each year to raise their chicks.

“Ian tells us all about the Peregrine Project that’s been running for the past 17 years.

There is a Peregrine viewpoint beneath the cove, with telescopes manned by the RSPB, where we were able to get some great views of the peregrines.

“I got a good view of the female peregrine (who is significantly larger than the male) sitting atop a dead tree. Ian explained it is rare to be able to get so close to nesting peregrines anywhere else. They are a protected species and it is against the law to disturb them.

Following this, Alan Hulme, head of park management joined our group and we set off up the cove to the limestone pavement at its top.

“Alan explained some of the issues facing the cove – wear and tear on footpaths and the limestone pavement itself due to the large numbers of visitors walking across it. There had been a suggestion in the past about placing a boardwalk across the pavement but there is no certainty this would stop people actually walking over the clints - the blocks of pavement - and grikes - the deep fissures between them which have formed through weathering.

“The limestone scenery is quite other-worldly and it’s no surprise it’s been used as a backdrop in films. A scene from the last Harry Potter film was shot on Malham Cove’s limestone pavement.

“We walked on from the pavement towards Gordale Scar, and on the way we stopped at a stile where there is a Samaritans sign. These have been put up on footpaths around the Cove because it has sadly seen three suicides in recent times.

“It is a really atmospheric place because the sound of water is greatly amplified by the surrounding high rocks. Alan explained the right of way goes up the waterfall at the top of Gordale Scar. Above it, the water comes down through a natural hole in the rock.

“We finished our walk at Janet’s Foss, which is quite a magical waterfall outside Malham. Janet was said to be the Queen of the Fairies and according to legend she lives in a cave behind the waterfall. It’s become a popular site for wild swimming.

“We returned to Malham National Park Centre and had a photo taken in front of the Malham Village sign, which actually has some amazing detail when you look at it closely.

“It was a really enjoyable day. We were blessed with some sunny weather and it was good to meet and speak to other young colleagues and talk about some of the issues and benefits of being a young person in the National Park.”

The Youth Forum was set up within the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority back in February with the aim of making young people better represented.

This move came from the EUROPARC Conference in the Cairngorms back in September 2018 where the theme was ‘European Parks: inspired by the next generation’ and included the launch of the Youth Manifesto.

The Manifesto identified the need to raise awareness of the issues young people face, better understand youth representation, create fun, safe places for young people to connect and to provide engaging activities and social opportunities for young people, focusing on learning about cultural heritage.

ccTHE first Youth Forum Activity Day involving younger members of staff with the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority involved a walk around Malham, writes Suzannah Barningham, a member of the YDNPA Human Resources and Wildlife team.

The the Authority’s blog, she explains Malham was chosen as the destination for the first activity day, allowing the team to learn more about the area.

She said: “The village of Malham in the Yorkshire Dales is a popular destination for visitors to the National Park – not only is it a typically attractive Dales village but it also offers some amazing karst – or limestone scenery: Malham Cove, limestone pavement and Gordale Scar.

“The aim of the activity day was to get some of the Authority’s younger staff together to discuss issues affecting young people who live and work in the Park, and to learn more about Malham and the surrounding area.

“The day started with a talk by Laura Parker, one of the information advisors at Malham National Park Centre. She gave us an informative talk about the history of the Centre, and what sort of queries the centre staff get from visitors and locals. Most people are visiting for the scenery but a knowledge of the area is important as the information advisors need to be able to suggest a variety of routes depending on the abilities of the visitor.

“Afterwards, we had a walk up to the Cove with Ian Court, one of the National Park’s Wildlife Officers.The Cove is home to a pair of peregrine falcons who return each year to raise their chicks.

“Ian tells us all about the Peregrine Project that’s been running for the past 17 years.

There is a Peregrine viewpoint beneath the cove, with telescopes manned by the RSPB, where we were able to get some great views of the peregrines.

“I got a good view of the female peregrine (who is significantly larger than the male) sitting atop a dead tree. Ian explained it is rare to be able to get so close to nesting peregrines anywhere else. They are a protected species and it is against the law to disturb them.

Following this, Alan Hulme, head of park management joined our group and we set off up the cove to the limestone pavement at its top.

“Alan explained some of the issues facing the cove – wear and tear on footpaths and the limestone pavement itself due to the large numbers of visitors walking across it. There had been a suggestion in the past about placing a boardwalk across the pavement but there is no certainty this would stop people actually walking over the clints - the blocks of pavement - and grikes - the deep fissures between them which have formed through weathering.

“The limestone scenery is quite other-worldly and it’s no surprise it’s been used as a backdrop in films. A scene from the last Harry Potter film was shot on Malham Cove’s limestone pavement.

“We walked on from the pavement towards Gordale Scar, and on the way we stopped at a stile where there is a Samaritans sign. These have been put up on footpaths around the Cove because it has sadly seen three suicides in recent times.

“It is a really atmospheric place because the sound of water is greatly amplified by the surrounding high rocks. Alan explained the right of way goes up the waterfall at the top of Gordale Scar. Above it, the water comes down through a natural hole in the rock.

“We finished our walk at Janet’s Foss, which is quite a magical waterfall outside Malham. Janet was said to be the Queen of the Fairies and according to legend she lives in a cave behind the waterfall. It’s become a popular site for wild swimming.

“We returned to Malham National Park Centre and had a photo taken in front of the Malham Village sign, which actually has some amazing detail when you look at it closely.

“It was a really enjoyable day. We were blessed with some sunny weather and it was good to meet and speak to other young colleagues and talk about some of the issues and benefits of being a young person in the National Park.”

The Youth Forum was set up within the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority back in February with the aim of making young people better represented.

This move came from the EUROPARC Conference in the Cairngorms back in September 2018 where the theme was ‘European Parks: inspired by the next generation’ and included the launch of the Youth Manifesto.

The Manifesto identified the need to raise awareness of the issues young people face, better understand youth representation, create fun, safe places for young people to connect and to provide engaging activities and social opportunities for young people, focusing on learning about cultural heritage.