Small donation. Big impact 🌼
In the North York Moors National Park, your support helps bring back beautiful local flowers like Giant Bellflower, Primroses and Wood Betony.
Donate to the Make a Difference campaign: https://www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/make-a-difference#Forgotten
Two people sitting at a restaurant table with plates of food and glasses of wine. A decorative pig statue is visible in the background on the fireplace mantel.
Helmsley and the Howardian Hills Restaurant Week finishes this weekend. 🍴
With more than 25 restaurants taking part, it’s the perfect excuse to try somewhere new or return to an old favourite. Expect special menus and great value dining across the area.
📸 In The Wilde at Danby Lodge, Olivia Brabbs
A group of people sit on a bench overlooking a scenic landscape of fields and hills under a blue sky with clouds. Tall grasses and wildflowers surround the bench. The image includes logos for "Danby Lodge" and "Sutton Bank" with a "50" emblem.
Three people sitting at a picnic table talking and smiling outside the Sutton Bank National Park Centre. A red sign on the building reads "Welcome to Sutton Bank National Park Centre." Text overlay says "Danby Lodge 50 Sutton Bank." Trees and a stone building are in the background.
50 years of Sutton Bank National Park Centre 🎂
Celebrate with us on Good Friday, 3 April 2026.
Live music from The Saltburn Smugglers, circus skills, bubbles, crafts, local food and the launch of ‘Finest Brew’ from Turning Point Brewery.
📸VisitBritain, Ula Blocksage
A blackbird perches on a branch among reddish twigs and leaves.
Anyone else missed those cheeky little blackbirds? 🐦
Hearing that familiar birdsong around the National Park again can only mean one thing - spring is on its way.
📸 Peter Waterton
Seen Wild Spaces at the cinema? 🎥
The series has been shortlisted in two categories at the UK Sponsorship Awards and we couldn’t be more thrilled.
Find out more about the collaboration 👉 https://nationalparks.co.uk/news/wild-spaces-shortlisted-for-two-uk-sponsorship-awards-2026/
A serene night sky filled with stars, featuring a meteor streaking diagonally. Below, three leafless trees stand silhouetted against the sky, with a small house in the distance. The landscape is tranquil and covered in a gentle layer of snow.
Final week of the Dark Skies Festival with the Yorkshire Dales ✨
Fingers crossed for cloudless nights and sparkling skies 🤞
See what’s still to come 👉 https://www.darkskiesnationalparks.org.uk/north-york-moors-events
📸 Steve Bell
Two people dining at a wooden table, each with a plate of food. A candle is on the table. A promotional graphic for "North Yorkshire Restaurant Week" is overlaid, with dates 23 Feb - 1 Mar 2026, mentioning Helmsley and the Howardian Hills.
Aerial view of a round dining table with five individuals eating various dishes. Plates include a salad, meat dish, pasta, and fries. Glasses of water and beer are visible, along with a small vase of flowers in the center. The setting is in a restaurant with a plaid carpet visible under the table.
The very first Restaurant Week for Helmsley and the Howardian Hills starts on Monday 🍽️
With more than 26 restaurants and cafés taking part and offers from just £15, it’s the perfect excuse to try somewhere new or revisit an old favourite.
📸 The Pheasant Hotel
A time-lapse photograph of a night sky showing circular star trails above a row of houses. The stars appear to rotate around a central point, creating an effect of concentric circles in the sky. The houses are silhouetted against the sky, with some windows illuminated.
Three children are sitting at a table enjoying snacks and drinks by a window. One is holding a muffin and a glass of orange juice. Another has a red drink. They appear to be in a cozy setting with a green outdoor view.
A person in a pink outfit and another in a dark sweater stand together, observing framed artwork of grey seals on a gallery wall. Other visitors can be seen in the background. The exhibition area features wooden beams and a carpeted floor.
A child with long hair is joyfully swinging on a rope swing at a playground. They are wearing a blue sweater, a floral skirt, maroon tights, and gray sneakers. The ground is covered in wood chips, and there is greenery in the background.
Danby Lodge National Park Centre is the place to be this February half-term. 🙌
✨ Stargazing in our brand new observatory
🎨 A new exhibition at Inspired by… Gallery
🌳 Playground for little adventurers
☕ Properly good coffee at In the Wilde café
📸 Martin Whipp, Olivia Brabbs, Dependable Productions
A person takes a photo of a classic, blue and white Ford Anglia parked in front of a stone building labeled "The Village Store and Cafe." The building next door is "Moors Coffee Shop & Gifts."
IYKYK, taking a picture with the little blue police car 💗🚓
📍 Goathland, North York Moors National Park
📸 VisitBritain/NYMNPA/Ula Blocksage
A tall, stone chimney stands against a backdrop of a star-filled night sky with the Milky Way visible. The landscape is grassy and sparse, with gentle hills in the distance.
Did everyone enjoy that one glorious day without rain?
The good news is not all of our Dark Skies Festival events depend on clear skies. You can cosy up inside and still soak up the magic.
See the full list of events: https://www.darkskiesnationalparks.org.uk/north-york-moors-events
📸 Tom Mutton
Over 200 artists. One gallery. Endless inspiration.
Inspired by… gallery is hosting the North Yorkshire Open Studios Spring Showcase next month, your go-to place to discover the artists opening their studios this summer.
See new artwork or catch live demos and talks.
📸 Olivia Brabbs
Look up and learn something new 🌙✨
This Dark Skies Festival (13 February to 1 March), join us for inspiring talks and events celebrating the magic of our night skies.
📸 Tony Marsh, Olly Barrett, Duncan Lomax - Ravage Productions
#DarkSkiesFestival
Two people using binoculars to observe nature in a wooded area.
A European pied flycatcher perched on a branch, holding an insect in its beak against a soft green background.
Ready, steady… birdwatch! 🐦
The RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch 2026 starts today. Spend one hour between 23 and 25 January counting the birds in your garden, local park or from your balcony and help make a real difference.
📸 Olivia Brabbs, Bearacreative
#BigGardenBirdwatch @rspb.bsky.social
Two people viewing an art exhibit featuring a dark blue textile piece and various sculptures in a gallery setting.
Next month, Inspired by… gallery will welcome over 200 artists for the North Yorks Open Studios Spring Showcase. It is your one-stop shop to discover the artists opening their studio doors to the public this summer.
📸 Olivia Brabbs
Silhouette of a person standing on a hill under a starry sky with light emanating from behind their head, creating a halo effect.
Who's up for a boogie? 💃🌌
Dance under the night sky with The Long Dead Stars at a free silent disco, part of the Dark Skies Festival.
Find out more 👉 https://www.darkskiesnationalparks.org.uk/north-york-moors-events/northyorkmoors/dance-with-the-long-dead-stars-at-sutton-bank
📸 Amalie Iona
Person holding a lit lantern on a dimly lit path at twilight.
Person reading a map during a nighttime outdoor event, with others in the background using headlamps.
Group of hikers in a forest, with one person in the center wearing a hat and a backpack, addressing others.
A person walking on a trail at night, illuminated by street lamps with a cityscape visible in the distant background.
Discover the North York Moors after hours at the Dark Skies Festival 2026.
See the full list of walking events and plan your night-time adventure 👉 https://www.darkskiesnationalparks.org.uk/north-york-moors-events
📸 Glen Fitzpatrick, Polly Baldwin, Hewitt & Walker
Person adjusting a telescope outside the Star and Nature Hub building under a cloudy sky at dusk.
All of our events with Richard Darn have already sold out for Dark Skies Festival.
Richard is an experienced astronomer and his sessions are always a highlight of the Festival.
Explore the full list of events: https://www.darkskiesnationalparks.org.uk/
📸 Steve Bell
#DarkSkiesFestival2026
A vibrant display of the Northern Lights in the night sky, featuring shades of green and red, with silhouettes of trees in the foreground.
Our Dark Skies Festival with the @yorkshiredales.org.uk is just one month away and it’s shaping up to be an unforgettable celebration of the night sky 🌌
Take a look at the full programme: https://www.darkskiesnationalparks.org.uk/
📸 Chris Whiles
#DarkSkiesFestival2026
Nighttime landscape featuring a starry sky over a forested valley with a winding road, known as the North York Moors.
We’re incredibly lucky to sit alongside the @yorkshiredales.org.uk as one of only 25 International Dark Sky Reserves in the world.
Together, we protect the largest designated area in the UK and one of the biggest in Europe, all recognised at the same time.
📸 Brinton Darnell
#DarkSkiesFestival2026
Person wearing a beanie and jacket looking out at a coastal landscape featuring a sea, cliffs, and a cloudy sky.
The last week has brought a real mix of weather across the North York Moors National Park. As you head out and about, please remember to travel safely.
🧥 Dress the part
🗺️ Plan ahead
#ShareWithCare
📸 Trought and About
A short-eared owl perched on a wooden post in a grassy field during golden hour light.
Wildlife on Wednesday: The short-eared owl is the wanderer of the open country. Unlike most owls, it often hunts in daylight. Their yellow eyes, rimmed in black, give them a fierce intensity that contrasts beautifully with their gentle, floating flight.
Image credit: Mike Nicholas
The press of a spade, the settling of soil, the promise of future growth tucked into a winter field. Our Woodland Creation Team spend these colder months shaping the future of the landscape, one young tree at a time. Take a moment with them in this short, soothing glimpse of their work.
A barn owl perched on a wooden post in a grassy field, facing the camera with a soft, blurred background.
The barn owl is the ghost of winter fields. It hunts by sound, using its sensitive hearing to pinpoint tiny movements in the grass. Thanks to their presence in folklore and literature, spotting one on a frosty evening feels like crossing paths with something mythic.
Image credit: Yoga and Spice
A lone tree silhouetted against a bright sun in a grassy field, with shadows stretching across the ground.
Two individuals planting a tree in a field on a sunny day, with shovels and a young tree between them.
Two individuals planting trees in a grassy field with trees in the background. One person is foregrounded, digging with a spade, while the other is in the background performing a similar task.
A shovel standing upright in soil, set against a background of a sunny farm field with sparse trees and a wooden fence.
A perfect sunny day for our GrubsUp! project volunteers who were busy planting the new community orchard at Lockton. Nearby, our Woodland Creation Team were also hard at work, adding field maple and crab apple to the landscape. Two teams, one morning, a lot of future growth going into the ground.
Young trees planted in a pattern across a grassy field, with sparse vegetation and a few larger trees in the background, under a cloudy sky.
A group of people in work attire, one carrying a yellow bucket, standing in a cultivated field with trees and a cloudy sky in the background
As part of our GrubsUp! project, we’re creating new community orchards. Orchards are brilliant for wildlife: blossom supports pollinators, old wood and long grass shelter insects and birds, and fruit provides food well into autumn.
A fluffy Lapwing chick walking on grass.
A Lapwing walking on a grassy field.
An adult Lapwing with its chick in a grassy field.
"Pee-wit" over an open field? Lapwing. These birds feed on insects, worms and spiders. They breed in March, before flocking in hundreds or thousands, heading to France or Spain for the winter, though some do stay.
Two birch trees in the foreground with a backdrop of a dense, leafless forest under a clear sky.
National Tree Week. Silver birch is a true pioneer: wind-blown seeds, quick to settle, quick to grow. Its bark and branches have been used for everything from containers to classic besom brooms.
A group of people walking near a large cluster of juniper in a rural, grassy area.
National Tree Week. Juniper is one of the UK’s three native conifers. A prickly, dioecious shrub, used to flavour gin. It provides great cover and winter food for wildlife, sheltering birds and invertebrates.
Branch of a crabapple tree with clusters of bright red fruit, set against a blurred background of a garden.
A cluster of ripe apples on a tree branch, surrounded by green leaves.
A lush tree with thick foliage stands in a rural landscape, with rolling hills in the background under a soft blue sky.
National Tree Week. Crab apples feed insects, birds, and historically, people. Nearly 100 insect species use them, and winter thrushes love the fallen fruit. Their tart ‘verjuice’ once stood in for lemon and helped jam set.
A close-up of a rowan tree branch featuring clusters of bright red berries and green pinnate leaves.
National Tree Week. Rowan is the hardy “wizard’s tree,” thriving in a wide range of environments, from rocky uplands to supermarket car parks. Spring flowers turn into red berries that winter thrushes and waxwings can’t resist.
