Grants for North York Moors hedgerows and dry stone walls

The application window for the 2024 Traditional Boundary Fund is now open. The scheme is designed to help farmers and landowners restore these essential features of the countryside.

Both hedges and dry stone walls form an important part of the landscape and character of the North York Moors.

Elspeth Ingleby, senior ecologist at the National Park Authority, said: “Hedgerows provide a home, corridor and important food-source for birds and wild pollinators, but they also help prevent soil erosion, capture and store carbon, reduce flood risk and lessen the amount of pollutants that enter rivers.

"And while dry stone walls might not seem like an obvious haven for wildlife, their nooks and crannies provide ideal microclimates for a wide range of plants and animals including insects, amphibians, reptiles and small mammals.”

The Traditional Boundary Fund (TBF) is aimed at boundaries in the North York Moors that aren’t already in receipt of funding from other sources and priority is given to boundaries with high visibility and historic or environmental interest. The grants can be used to restore hedgerows using traditional methods such as laying and coppicing, as well as for planting new hedges and the repair or restoration of drystone walls.

Land managers looking at carrying out larger scale boundary works are also encouraged to contact the National Park Authority to discuss the potential for separate, standalone projects.

For more information and application forms for the Traditional Boundary Fund, visit https://www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/grants-and-advice/traditional-boundary-fund or email tbf@northyorkmoors.org.uk. The same email address can be used to enquire about larger projects.

The application window for the Traditional Boundary Fund for 2024 closes on April 30.