The future for our Dales Parishes – be part of it

Caring for the Parish is a unique project that has helped parish councils in and around the Dales to care for their villages since January 2010. YDMT play a key role in the project – working alongside Nidderdale Plus to help parishes set up their own caretaker schemes. As the project comes to an end at the end of 2012 we’re now looking to the future. How can we continue the good work of the scheme and help parishes to safeguard their own rural environment and heritage?

Caring for the Parish – Bentham Caretaker hedge trimming

Caring for the Parish has already helped parishes like Burton-cum Walden, Grassington, Bewerley and North Stainley to take on caretakers who carry out general village maintenance as well as crucial heritage and environmental work. Through the scheme we provide training opportunities in land based skills, health and safety and land registry issues and organise conferences to encourage parishes to share their experiences and develop best practice.

Although Caring for the Parish is due to end this December the scheme now has a solid foundation upon which to continue. Many of the parishes who have taken part in the funded caretaker scheme want to continue looking after their vibrant villages once the scheme comes to an end, and others want to become involved.

That’s why representatives from parish councils will be meeting on Wednesday 11^th July at the Devonshire Institute in Grassington to look at ways of funding the caretaker scheme into the future. Experts from Rural Action Yorkshire and the Funding Advice Network will be there to give advice about how to fund a caretaker scheme in the current financial climate. Many of the people attending will have been running their own funded caretaker scheme for the last two years.

We’re inviting people who are interested in the future of our villages in the Dales, or want ideas and advice about how to finance a caretaker scheme in their own parish to come along. For more information please contact Gillian Muir at YDMT on gillian.muir@ydmt.org or call 015242 51002.