HILL farmers in the North York Moors need a better deal to safeguard the long-term future of its picturesque landscape, says the Moors Association.

Secretary Peter Woods said: "Hill farmers face a very depressing future. Their soils have been so depleted of healthy organisms by more and more slurry spreading. And bulk-producing grass species instead of herb-rich mixtures, have been planted in pastures."

Writing in the association's latest news bulletin, "Voice of the Moors", Mr Woods said: "Grazing regimes have permitted massive top-soil losses to rainfall run-off.

"Wildlife on farms - so important for a balanced ecology - now faces dire prospects for the future".

He suggests that a "Product of the National Park" label be used to market goods produced on farms to help the struggling economy of the moorland farmers.

"My own view is that the only helpful avenue open to the Government at present is to give special financial support to creating 'Organic National Parks'.

"The Government has already declared its intention to raise the percentage of organic farms in Britain by 30pc by the year 2020.

"Where better to begin than by setting sufficient funds aside to achieve this aim first in the National Park, say in the next decade".

Mr Woods added "An important additional benefit which the park would then also get for free would be healthy, rather than dying soils and wildlife, and rivers no longer polluted by much too rapid run-off from unhealthy and unsustainable farming and moorland practices".