Have your say on the future of the moors

Image courtesy of the National Trust (Victoria Holland)

After years of conservation work on the moors, local people are invited to a special online event to see how work is progressing to improve the uplands and river catchments surrounding nearby Marsden, Meltham and Holmfirth.

Work including planting moss and native trees, using natural materials to reduce flood risk and removing invasive species have all had a big impact on the landscape.

The work is part of the ‘Our Future Landscapes Strategy’, created following a public consultation event in March 2019, attended by over 100 residents.

The plan for upland restoration, from the ‘Our Future Landscapes Partnership’, incorporates ideas from the public and the expertise of all the organisations involved - The National Trust, Moors for the Future, Yorkshire Water, White Rose Forest, The Environment Agency, Woodland Trust, Kirklees Council, Yorkshire Water, Calder Rivers Trust, River Holme Connections, Colne Valley Tree Society and Marsden Community Trust.

These organisations are working together on projects to restore the landscape, reduce flood risk, create woodland, improve access and recreation, improve carbon capture, increase biodiversity, create green jobs and help with community learning.

This work is also helping Kirklees Council’s response to the Climate Emergency.

This year’s online workshops will allow local people to hear about the current projects that are part of the ‘Our Future Landscapes Strategy’ and find out more about the progress in the upland areas of the Colne and Holme catchments.

Councillor Rob Walker, portfolio holder for Environment and Culture and Chair of the Partnership, said: “We were delighted by the response to the consultation event in 2019 and we’ve been working hard since then to maintain momentum and develop a positive and ambitious vision for our upland landscapes.

"The Our Future Landscapes Strategy has the involvement of local people at its core and we’re eager to launch these events to give people more information about the exciting projects ahead.”

The workshops will take place online via a Zoom event on January 21, from 7pm.

To attend, please book with the event’s page here 

For more details about the National Trust’s work, visit: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/marsden-moor-estate

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