THE North Yorkshire Moors Association is strongly supporting the North York Moors National Park Authority's proposals aimed at helping maintain sheep flocks on the moors.

The association council said sheep grazing the moorland were a vital link in maintaining the wild upland landscape.

With the economic pressures faced by hill farmers, the association fears a domino effect, as the removal of a flock increases pressure on the management of neighbouring flocks, as sheep stray on to vacated moorland.

A recent park authority committee meeting supported moves to increase shepherding, working in partnership with farmers, including a move to identify funding to subsidise this activity. It rejected permanent fencing of open moorland.

George Winn Darley, NYMA council member, said: "Shepherding is one route to reducing pressures on sheep management and indeed had previously been identified for support under the 'moorland regeneration' project funded by support from the Europe 5b programme. Regrettably this funding is no longer available"

Geoff Belbin, association secretary, said: "We recognise the importance of sheep to the moorland landscape and strongly believe that shepherding, in partnership with farmers and landowners, could play a major role in helping to maintain flocks on the moors, while providing employment.

"The alternative of permanent fencing has been rejected by the park authority. Studies in North Wales have shown that revenue subsidies spent on maintaining the environment circulate for much longer within the local economy than subsidies for capital projects, such as fencing.