A CHANCE to see the first drafts of the so-called "right to roam" maps of the Yorkshire Dales National Park and parts of North Yorkshire is on offer next week.

Expert opinions will also be offered to landowners, farmers and rural firms by the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) in association with Strutt & Parker.

The draft access maps for the national park and the Harrogate and Richmondshire District Council areas are due to be published by the

Countryside Agency on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, Dr Karen Jones, the CLA's chief legal adviser, and James Farrell, Strutt & Parker's expert on access issues, will address village hall meetings at Cracoe, near Skipton, on Wednesday morning and West Burton, near Leyburn, on Wednesday afternoon.

There will be an open forum following the talks when views can be aired with the expert panel.

The CLA says non-members whose land may be affected are welcome to attend but places are limited and must be reserved in advance by phoning 01347 823803.

"This is a major new piece of legislation and our experience from other parts of the country suggests that there will inevitably be mistakes in the complex mapping process, so it's vital for all concerned to check the maps very thoroughly indeed," said Dorothy Fairburn, CLA Yorkshire regional director.

Sheep in

the future

THE Northern Region of the National Sheep Association holds its annual meeting at The Hired Lad, Penrith Mart, on Wednesday at 7.30.

It will be followed by an open sheepnight during which John Thorley, NSA chief executive, will give his thoughts on the UK sheep industry and the future, and Mike Gooding will discuss the work of Farmers First within the sheep industry.

More details are available from Julie Sedgewick, regional secretary, on 01388 609 322.