THE wonderful wildflower habitats of the Yorkshire Dales will be celebrated during a new festival in the National Park this summer.

The Flowers of the Dales festival - organised by The Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust - will comprise seventy events and activities throughout the Dales from May to August.

The festival builds on the success of the Hay Time project - which conserves and restores hay meadows - and the Hay Time Festival.

Don Gamble, YDMT’s Hay Time project manager said he was delighted to be co-ordinating the festival.

“It will have a wide range of great events with something for everyone,” he said. “The Dales are host to many fantastic wildflower habitats including traditional hay meadows, limestone pavement and heather moorland. These habitats are not only important for wildlife but often have cultural significance and contribute to the area being a special place to visit.”

YDMT is looking for organisations and individuals interested in running an event, such as walks, talks, arts, farm visits, plant identification courses and conservation work.

The Festival programme will be available at the end of April.

For further information call Don Gamble on: 015242 51002 or email: don.gamble@ydmt.org