HEATHER moorland is increasing in the north of England for the first time in 50 years.

Almost 200,000 acres was lost between 1945 and 1985, but in the last 15 years alone, more than 160,000 acres has been restored.

The moorland association says it has been achieved through newly created heather habitats and improved management methods including re-seeding, bracken control and reducing livestock numbers.

The improvements are largely due to an investment of more than £9.6m by moor land owners.

They have more recently been helped with grants from the Countryside Stewardship Scheme, MAFF and European funds such as the northern uplands moorland regeneration project and the North York Moors Objective 5b moorland regeneration programme.

Sir Anthony Milbank of Barningham Park, near Richmond, is chairman of the association.

"Managed heather moor land is not only a habitat for grouse, but it is also vitally important for the whole raft of bird life, including rare and protected species," he said.

"These include waders such as curlew, golden plover, dotterel and lapwing, predator birds like the merlin, shorteared owl, hen harrier and peregrine and other rare ground nesting birds like the black grouse and skylark."

Sir Anthony said the task of the association since being formed in 1986 had been to work with government agencies to obtain funds for moorland and habitat creation work.

"Traditional management of moor land for sheep and grouse continues to be the sustainable way forward for the vast majority of heather moorlands," he said.

"It is good to see the government, farmers and moor owners all pulling in the same direction on heather regeneration and this can only be good news for the heather moors and their magnificent array of wildlife."

l The northern upland moor land regeneration project this week announced the results of its second year's work.

Since its launch in October 1998 it has secured the improvement and conservation of just under 75,000 hectares of heather moorland and has created 18 full-time and four part-time jobs.

The project was instigated by the moorland association and is funded by the European Objective 5b programme, MAFF and English Nature.

Its aim is to protect and improve the moorlands for the benefit of grouse, sheep and wildlife.

Mr Peter Welsh, English Nature's senior officer for the North East and Yorkshire, said the blanket bog and heathland habitats of the northern uplands were recognised as being of international ecological importance.

"The work this project is carrying out is crucial to improving their condition in terms of vegetation and diversity of wildlife," he said.

"The technical information, backed by financial assistance, on best farming and keepering practice, will help develop the moors into sustainable working and living environments, with all the social, environmental and economic benefits that integrated management brings."

Mr Philip Bull, manager of the project, said 38 plans had so far been approved for grant aid covering such work as bracken control, heather re-seeding, erosion control, sheep grazing control, winter livestock housing, grouse, keeper and wetland management.

"Over the remaining year of the project's life there are a further 13,032 hectares (50 square miles) in the pipeline to be improved and protected," he said