A CD celebrating moorland landscapes is being launched at a free concert tonight.

On Heather and Clarty Moor was commissioned by the North York Moors National Park and features ten folk musicians and vocalists.

The album was produced by local folk artist Richard Grainger and celebrates the culture and heritage of the North York Moors.

"It's a mixture of my observations of moorland life and a reinvention of some of old songs done in the traditional way," said Richard, who lives at Commondale, near Whitby.

National Park spokesman Mike Pratt said the CD had captured some of the real flavour of local life.

"The North York Moors is not a natural landscape. Even the things which seem wild have been created by people as part of their daily toil, as part of their reaction to circumstances, to their needs and to inspiration," he said.

The launch concert starts at 7.30pm tonight in the village hall at Commondale, where the songs were recorded for the album.

Published: 29/07/2004