MOORLAND farmers packed meetings held by the North York Moors National Park Authority at The Everley Hotel, Hackness, and The Lion Inn, Blakey, to hear details of a new environmental stewardship scheme being introduced by the Government.

Peter Barfoot, head of services for the park, said the new structures had the potential to benefit many of the 1,100 farmers in the park.

Details of the schemes were outlined by Lesley Blainey, of the Department of Food and Rural Affairs, at Northallerton, while Suzy Grindley, of the park authority, explained how the new Countryside Rights of Way Act and open access would work in the park.