A windfall from the National Lottery will benefit more than 700 primary school pupils.

The youngsters will be taking part in study days and field trips to learn about the environment and heritage in the Howardian Hills.

The Discovery Project, which is being run in partnership with the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust for five years, has won a £25,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

It will be used to run trips and activities for youngsters in the Howardian Hills, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Assistant AONB officer Fiona Scully said: "This is a great opportunity for schoolchildren to experience and learn about the special nature and heritage of their local environment.

"It is a good way of reaching young people and their families to increase understanding and awareness of the natural wealth and history of the landscape."

The primary schools involved are Sheriff Hutton; Amotherby; St Hilda's and St Benedict's, Ampleforth; Terrington; Hovingham; Crayke; Slingsby; Foston; Terrington Hall; Welburn and Husthwaite.

They will take part in at least two events during the five-year term of the project.