Blooming good effort on Farndale's daffodil walk (From York Press)

Blooming good effort on Farndale's daffodil walk

10:51am Wednesday 8th February 2012 in Ryedale news

LOCAL residents have teamed up with the North York Moors National Park Authority’s Make a Difference volunteers and staff to carry out habitat management work along the popular Farndale daffodil walk.

A wet grassland site – known locally as the duck pond – on the daffodil walk to the north of Low Mill, had become very overgrown with willow and alder trees.

Members of the Farndale community were concerned about the area becoming overgrown and shady, particularly as this is a popular spot for visitors to pause and admire the stunning display of blooms.

Trees were cut back to open up the area and let more light in to make it more pleasing for visitors. The cut wood was used to make twiggy bundles and stakes which will be installed along a short stretch of riverbank in the same area to help prevent further riverbank erosion.

Natural England consent was required before the work could take place, as the area concerned is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest due to the diversity of habitats and plant species in the area including the wild daffodil.

More than 50,000 people visit Farndale each year during the daffodil season.

To keep congestion on the narrow roads to a minimum, the National Park Authority runs a daffodil shuttle bus from Hutton-le-Hole car park to several stops along the daffodil walk.

This year the bus will operate on Sundays, from March 25 to April 15, plus Good Friday, Easter Saturday and Easter Monday. Timetables will shortly be available at www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/moorsbus or you can telephone 01439 770657.