More than 2,000 hectares of damaged peatland have undergone initial restoration and £1.5m has been awarded to farm businesses during the first year of a five-year plan for the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
The achievements are among those highlighted in the first annual report on the Yorkshire Dales National Park Management Plan 2025-30.
The report assesses progress towards 40 objectives aimed at conserving and enhancing the National Park while supporting its communities and economy.
Officials say good progress has been made on 21 objectives, with a further 13 moving in the right direction.
Among the headline achievements is £1.5m awarded to farm businesses through Defra’s Farming in Protected Landscapes programme for projects benefiting nature, climate, heritage and communities.
The Yorkshire Peat Partnership has also completed initial restoration work on another 2,275 hectares of damaged peatland.
Restoring peat is intended to increase carbon storage, improve habitats and biodiversity and help retain water in the landscape.
The report says 40km of hedgerows have also been created or restored since 2022, providing habitats for wildlife as well as shelter for livestock.
Community work has included support for more than 120 groups through activities, training and partnership projects.
More than 6,000 young people have also taken part in curriculum-based outdoor learning activities designed to connect them with nature.
The period has also seen the adoption of a new Local Plan containing a principal residence requirement for new homes. This means new dwellings must be used as people’s main homes and cannot subsequently become second homes or holiday lets.
Michael Devlin, chair of the National Park Management Plan Partnership, said much of the progress was due to those who manage the landscape.
“From restoring peatlands and planting hedgerows to improving habitats and supporting local communities, farmers and land managers are playing a vital role in shaping the future of the Yorkshire Dales,” he said.
Mr Devlin also highlighted the Natural Health Service for North Yorkshire, through which people with a range of health conditions have been supported to spend time in the Dales to improve physical health, mental wellbeing and social connections.
“There is still more to do, but these achievements provide a strong foundation for the years ahead,” he added.
