A NEW era has begun for the way in which countryside services are run across England's largest county.

An extensive review has been carried out by North Yorkshire County Council into the way such services are delivered.

A unit has been created bringing together staff involved with public rights of way, heritage and countryside management. John Edwards has been appointed the head of countryside services.

Mr Edwards joined the authority in 1974 and over the past 30 years has held various posts dealing with countryside work and the conservation of the natural and historic environment. Since 1996 he has been the council's head of the heritage service.

He said: "The new countryside service has been formed at a time when rural communities are facing huge change.

"The county council has recognised the need to integrate its services more closely together to help farmers, landowners and the public look after the countryside and the special heritage features that make North Yorkshire such a wonderful place to live and visit."

The county's executive member for environmental services, Peter Sowray, said: "The new countryside service has an ambitious agenda.

"This includes developing a new public rights of way improvement plan, bringing in new arrangements for access to open country and making sure the county's vast network of footpaths and bridleways are well maintained.

"A new programme of countryside management will aim to extend advisory services already provided in the national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty to all parts of the county.

"Existing teams dealing with archaeology, building conservation, landscape and ecology have been given additional resources to focus on key priorities."