VISITORS to the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty should have a much clearer view this summer.

Six landowning members of the Moorland Association, helped by almost £17,000 funding through the post-foot-and-mouth rural economic recovery project, have cleared more than 200 acres of bracken.

The money, secured by Yorkshire Dales Millenium Trust and the AONB, funded up to 50pc of the costs, which involved grouse moor managers using a specialised safe chemical last summer.

Because of the economic impact of foot-and-mouth on the area, the planned moorland restoration work carried out by the landowners suffered a major setback. Without the grant aid, they would have had to delay the costly bracken management programme.

Bracken, which is poisonous and can grow up to six feet tall, has to be treated every year for ten years to be completely controlled. Missing a year could have set the work back by two years or more.

Simon Bostock, chairman of the Moorland Association, thanked and applauded the AONB team and Millenium Trust for helping the programme to stay on target.

"Controlling bracken on open moorland is a costly process and, though it benefits farmers, walkers and wildlife, it has been primarily the revenue from grouse shooting which has paid for it," he said.

"Grant aid in recent years has become very limited and, if we are to keep this invasive weed in check, it is vital that funds are again made available by Government through its agencies.

" The association is actively seeking to achieve this, hence we are delighted to hear of this particular success story."