Campaigning for the Dales

The Yorkshire Dales Society is an independent charity which has been operating to protect, conserve and promote the Dales for 25 years. It provides a voice for people who care about the Dales to be heard at local and national level, enabling them to be represented in local consultations, planning and decision making.

YDS Comments on the Proposed National Park Boundary Changes

The Yorkshire Dales Society comments on the Yorkshire Dales proposed boundary changes. Including Northern and Western extension and Orton Fells.

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YDS Policy Statement On Wind Farms

Wind farm

The core objective of the Yorkshire Dales Society is the protection and enhancement of the distinctive landscape of the Yorkshire Dales.


The Society recognises the nation’s need for adequate and secure sources of energy into the future, and the threat posed by global warming, but regrets that wind power has hitherto dominated the debate on new and alternative means of energy generation...


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What do we do?

What do we do?

What exactly do we do? This section details just that, and shows you some examples...

How do we make a difference?

How do we make a difference?

Read about how we are making a difference to the Yorkshire Dales, including the Ken Willson Award...

Our President

Bill Mitchell

Saturday May 10th 2008 saw Bill Mitchell unanimously elected as Yorkshire Dales Society President at the YDS AGM at the Dalesbridge Centre in Austwick.
Bill Mitchell was born in Skipton over 80 years ago and became a reporter on the Craven Herald & Pioneer in the town, meeting Harry J. Scott who founded The Yorkshire Dalesman (later The Dalesman), in April 1939...

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Paul Hudson - Vice President

Paul Hudson

BBC television weatherman, meteorologist, noted conservationist and Dales lover Paul Hudson, seen here opening the new shelter at Buckden Garth, is now a Vice President of the Yorkshire Dales Society.


Other Vice Presidents of the Society are Members of Parliament and supporters of the Society's work Ann Cryer MP for Keighley and Ilkley, David Curry, MP for Skipton and Ripon and Rt Hon William Hague MP for Richmond.

The Ken Wilson Award 2009

The Ken Wilson Award Winner 2009

This year’s winner of the Ken Willson Award, given annually to a young person who lives or works in the Dales and has contributed in an outstanding way to some aspect of the Dales environmental heritage or to an aspect of Dales life, is Steve Marsden.
Aged 26, from Long Preston, Skipton, Steve has his own business - Marsden Agricultural and Environmental Services Ltd. He was nominated by Don Gamble, Project Officer / Hay Time Project Manager at the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust; Tom Lord, Lower Winskill Visitor Centre, Langcliffe and Honorary Member of the YDS; and Adrian Shepherd of the Yorkshire Dale National Park Authority, Grassington....

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Chairman’s Report for 2008/2009

AGM - Saturday, 09 May 2009:

This has been a successful year for your Society, though we are still dealing with the after-effects of the retirement of the founder-Secretaries Colin and Fleur Speakman and also that of the long-serving Treasurer David Smith...

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Join The Yorkshire Dales Society today

Standard Membership

Care about the future of the Dales?
So do we!
Join and make a difference today
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Corporate Membership

Companies who would like to see the social and economic development of the Dales are invited to join the Yorkshire Dales Society as corporate members.
Find out more >>

News

  • ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
    ADVANCE NOTIFICATION - THE YORKSHIRE DALES SOCIETY ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING WILL TAKE PLACE ON SATURDAY, 10 JULY 2010 AT 2.00 PM PROMPT AT THE RACEHORSES, KETTLEWELL. GUEST SPEAKER - JULIAN CARLISLE, NATIONAL TRUST FARM AND COUNTRYSIDE ADVISOR FOR YORKSHIRE AND THE NORTH EAST 'FARMING OUR COUNTRYSIDE'

May Events

  • ANNUAL WILD FLOWER WALK, OXENBER WOODS, AUSTWICK

    Sunday, 09 May. Walk: 6 miles easy, approx. 4.5 hours. Joint Walk as part of YDMT Festival of Flowers 2010. Meet at 10.30am and walk through Oxenber Woods to Feizor (with refreshments at Home Barn, if desired) and back to the start. A fabulous riot of wild flowers will be seen on this truly superb walk. Leader: Dr Chris Wright, YDS. Wild Flower and Plant Expert: Dr Judith Allinson, YDS. Meeting Place to be confirmed. Cost: free Contact: Anne Webster, Yorkshire Dales Society - 01729 825 600.

  • FOURTH WINTER WALK AND LECTURE

    Saturday, 22 May 2010 WALK: A DIFFERENT CIRCULAR WALK, HAWES Walk Leader: Alan Watkinson, YDS Walk: 4 - 5 miles easy/moderate Meet: Outside the Dales Countryside Museum, Hawes, at 10.30am. Bus 157 Bedale d 0905, Leyburn 0940 LECTURE: 'THE HAYTIME PROJECT IN THE DALES' Lecturers: Christa Perry, Project Officer and Don Gamble, Project Manager Meet: The Methodist Church, Hawes for 2.15pm start

June Events

  • HAYMEADOWS AT WINSKILL

    Saturday, 12 June 2010 Joint walk with YDMT Festival of Flowers 2010. Walk: a four mile return walk from Stainforth Car Park to Winskill Farm to meet Dales farmer, archaeologist, naturalist and YDS Honorary Member Tom Lord, to look at the flower rich meadows at Winskill Farm. Ome steep ascent. Wild Flower and Plant Expert: Dr Judith Amminson. Walk Leader: Colin Speakman Meet: 1300 Stainforth Car Park Train: d Leeds 1049, Keighley 1112, Skipton 1126, a Settle 1146 Bus: B10 d Settle Market Place 1245, a Stainforth 1253 Motorists park at Stainforth car park or Winskill Farm

July Events

  • MEET THE REAL DALES PONIES

    Gill Woods, owner or registered native ponies will give an informative talk on "History of the Dales Ponies" Meet: 11.00am at Stainforth Car PArk The ponies are a short walk away. Train: de Leeds 09.07, Skipton 10.26, Settle 10.44 Bus: B10 d Settle Market Place 10.45, a Stainforth 10.53. Afternoon walk from Stainforth to Horton Station following the Ribble Way, approx five miles. Moderate. Walk Leader: Colin Speakman

Yorkshire Dales Society, Town Hall, Cheapside, Settle, North Yorkshire, BD24 9EJ
 |  Tel: (+44) (0)1729 825600  |  email: info@yds.org.uk
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