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National Parks Week 28th July - 3 August 2008
National Parks Week 28th July - 3 August 2008
This year’s National Parks Week is celebrating local food and farming and to launch the week, the North York Moors National Park Authority is inviting people to join them for a picnic on Sunday 27 July at one of its two National Park Centres. National Parks Week runs from 28 July to 3 August and celebrates the special qualities of the UK’s 14 National Parks. There is a wide range of events happening throughout the week across the North York Moors including guided walks, workshops and children’s activities.
On 27 July in the grounds of The Moors National Park Centre there will be a variety of stalls selling locally produced food, drink and crafts. A realistic model cow will be on hand for anyone who fancies trying their hand at milking and the Whitby Company of Archers will provide some expert archery tuition. There will also be drystone walling and willow weaving workshops, fly fishing, sheep shearing and spinning demonstrations and flower arrangements by Loftus Flower Club. Musicians will be playing and there will be artwork from various people on display. People will also have a chance to meet the author of a new walks book for the North York Moors aimed specifically at children. ‘Making Tracks’ is written and illustrated by Joanne Poyser who will be signing copies on the day.
Jill and Andrew Kelly who run the tearooms at the Centre, will be cooking some delicious dishes using locally reared, heather-fed wether shearlings provided by the Moorland Shearling Group. Free tastings of this North York Moors speciality will be on offer and there will also be recipe cards available for people to make the dishes at home.
Philip Trevelyan of Hill Top Farm, Spaunton is one of the sheep farmers involved in the Moorland Shearling Group. He said:
“Older than lamb but younger than mutton, these young wether shearlings retain a really distinctive moorland flavour and make superb eating. Buying locally-reared shearlings and lamb from farm shops and butchers or eating it at restaurants also helps to support local sheep farmers.”
At Sutton Bank National Park Centre on the same day there is a choice of two walks. At 10.30am National Park Ranger Simon Bassindale will be leading a short guided walk from the Centre looking at how the local landscape has been shaped by past glacial events. In the afternoon at 2pm, there will be a story telling stroll for children around the Centre’s grounds.
Sally Smith, the National Park Authority’s Events and Exhibitions Coordinator, said:
“The National Parks Week picnic will be a really fun day out for all the family so pack a picnic and come along to one of the Centres. If you fancy treating yourself, picnics made up of locally produced food will be available to buy from the tearooms at both Sutton Bank and The Moors National Park Centres.”
Entrance to both National Park Centres is free though there is a charge for some of the activities and pre-booking is advisable for the walks from Sutton Bank National Park Centre (call 01439 772738).
Both Centres are also accessible by Moorsbus. Information on all the events for National Parks Week can be found here or in the ‘Out and About’ Guide available from National Park and Tourist Information Centres.
