RARE wildlife species in North Yorkshire look set to benefit from new proposals to increase the number of England's protected wildlife habitats by 50 per cent.
Areas of the North York Moors, Beast Cliff at Whitby and Kirk Deighton, near Wetherby, are on the list of 81 new sites, which could be designated under proposed revisions to the list of England's Special Areas of Conservation.
The proposals, under European law, will ensure long-term protection of the sites and species that live there, ensuring their preservation.
The vegetated sea cliffs at Beast Cliff, Whitby, could be designated under the proposed revisions as could blanket bogs, European dry heaths and northern Atlantic wet heaths on the North York Moors.
The heaths at Strensall Common and Skipwith Common will also benefit, as will stretches of the river Derwent in East and North Yorkshire
In announcing the new measures, deputy prime minister John Prescott also announced a new code encouraging co-operation between the organisations which advise on the management of nationally important areas and the people who own or gain benefit from them.
The other local areas to be protected are the old sessile oak woods at Arnecliffe and Park Hole, North Yorkshire, and the thriving grasslands of Ox Close, also in North Yorkshire.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article