Wildlife on Wednesday: The short-eared owl is the wanderer of the open country. Unlike most owls, it often hunts in daylight. Their yellow eyes, rimmed in black, give them a fierce intensity that contrasts beautifully with their gentle, floating flight. Image credit: Mike Nicholas

The press of a spade, the settling of soil, the promise of future growth tucked into a winter field. Our Woodland Creation Team spend these colder months shaping the future of the landscape, one young tree at a time. Take a moment with them in this short, soothing glimpse of their work.

The barn owl is the ghost of winter fields. It hunts by sound, using its sensitive hearing to pinpoint tiny movements in the grass. Thanks to their presence in folklore and literature, spotting one on a frosty evening feels like crossing paths with something mythic. Image credit: Yoga and Spice

A perfect sunny day for our GrubsUp! project volunteers who were busy planting the new community orchard at Lockton. Nearby, our Woodland Creation Team were also hard at work, adding field maple and crab apple to the landscape. Two teams, one morning, a lot of future growth going into the ground.

As part of our GrubsUp! project, we’re creating new community orchards. Orchards are brilliant for wildlife: blossom supports pollinators, old wood and long grass shelter insects and birds, and fruit provides food well into autumn.

"Pee-wit" over an open field? Lapwing. These birds feed on insects, worms and spiders. They breed in March, before flocking in hundreds or thousands, heading to France or Spain for the winter, though some do stay.

National Tree Week. Silver birch is a true pioneer: wind-blown seeds, quick to settle, quick to grow. Its bark and branches have been used for everything from containers to classic besom brooms.

National Tree Week. Juniper is one of the UK’s three native conifers. A prickly, dioecious shrub, used to flavour gin. It provides great cover and winter food for wildlife, sheltering birds and invertebrates.

National Tree Week. Crab apples feed insects, birds, and historically, people. Nearly 100 insect species use them, and winter thrushes love the fallen fruit. Their tart ‘verjuice’ once stood in for lemon and helped jam set.

National Tree Week. Rowan is the hardy “wizard’s tree,” thriving in a wide range of environments, from rocky uplands to supermarket car parks. Spring flowers turn into red berries that winter thrushes and waxwings can’t resist.

National Tree Week. Hawthorn, also known as Quickset, is the backbone of many hedgerows. Strong, thorny, and fast to grow, it forms natural barriers and adds a burst of May blossom each spring.

National Tree Week. Ash trees keep woodlands bright with their open, late-leafing canopy. And despite Ash Dieback Disease, many are showing resilience, pushing new growth and adapting.

Aspens flutter even in still air, catching sunlight on both sides of each leaf. They grow fast and clone themselves underground, creating new trees which are genetic clones of the parent.

National Tree Week. With a thousand-year lifespan and deep roots in British myth, the oak is a silent monarch of our landscape. Our Woodland Creation Team collects acorns from established trees so we can plant the next generation.

Wildlife on Wednesday: Meet the Kingfisher The kingfisher hunts from low perches into slow-flowing rivers, ponds and lakes for fish. Clean, undisturbed waterways are vital—cold snaps and pollution hit them hard. Locally, numbers are scarce but stable. Image credit: Paul Harris

Wildlife on Wednesday: Badgers live in underground homes (setts). Earthworms are their favourite snack. They don’t hibernate, they ride out winter in their setts, popping out on milder nights. Look for their long-clawed tracks and if you see a badger, never disturb them. Image: (c) Wildstock/NYMNPA

From England to Australia and the skies above Sutton Bank: the Yorkshire Gliding Club archive has helped our Raiding the Bank project reconnect with the story of aviator Amy Johnson. https://www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/blog/raiding-the-bank-amy-johnson

Not so spooky after all. In the North York Moors National Park, bats are signs of a thriving, balanced environment - not Halloween villains. In recent years we've recorded over a million bat calls, helping shape future conservation work. Image: Brown long-eared bat © John Altringham

Rare fungi species like the Pink Waxcap and Violet Coral have been found in record numbers during a UK-wide citizen science survey by @plantlifeuk.bsky.social, including here in the North York Moors National Park. To learn more visit https://www.plantlife.org.uk/ Image: Pink Waxcap (c) Ray Woods

Staithes Beck is getting a much-needed boost — and the fish are first in line to benefit. Our latest blog post highlights how smart design can work with nature, not against it. https://www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/blog/breathing-life-back-into-staithes-beck

Staff from the North York Moors National Park were among the speakers today at the Restoring Nature Conference, hosted by Ryedale Environment Group. A fantastic day of ideas, collaboration.

If the bank holiday brings you to Farndale show today, our friendly team will be on hand for a chat. Don't miss our competition, guess the correct number of treats in the jar, the closest guess at the end of show season wins this lovely hamper provided by The Pet Store Pickering.

Once common in our meadows and woodlands, beautiful wildflowers like Giant Bellflower, Stitchwort and Primroses are now in decline. With your help, we can bring them back 🌼 Help support nature’s comeback in the North York Moors 👉 https://www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/make-a-difference 📸 : Paul ​Harris

Our team will be at Egton Show today. We have craft activities, lots of information leaflets and copies of our Out and About guide for you to pick up. We hope to see you there.

Our Rivers Team has been out surveying juvenile fish as part of ongoing monitoring of fish populations. These surveys are a key tool in assessing fish populations and understanding the health of our watercourses, they help us track the positive impact of our conservation work. #conservation #rivers

Did my first EVER "star gazing" Saturday, at Sutton Bank Star Hub @northyorkmoors.org.uk @northyorkmoors.bsky.social HUGE thanks to Richard Darn @gostargazing.bsky.social lending scopes to snap #SturgeonMoon & @yorkpress.bsky.social for publicising the event! (Also saw Saturn's rings AND #perseids)

Heading to the Ryedale Show today? Come along to the North York Moors National Park tent. Meet our friendly team, grab this year’s Out and About guide, design your own mini GrubsUp! heart, enter our dog biscuit contest for a chance to win a prize hamper, kindly donated by The Pet Store Pickering

Exciting recent water vole footage from one of our trail cams! Thanks to volunteer Tony for this fantastic video. @northyorkmoors.bsky.social #nature #wildife #naturerecovery #nationalparks #watervole #ukwildife #yorkshire

A citizen science bat survey that ran for five consecutive years has provided unexpected evidence of the northwards spread of three different species of bush cricket. 🦇 🦗 In total, the study captured more than 2.2 million wildlife recordings! To read more: www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/about-us/pre...

Today we hear from Georgia, a Community Engagement Officer from @northyorkmoors.org.uk. Read the article to see why she believes that being friendly, open minded and organised can be key for landing a role. c-js.uk/3XPmsQn

Beacon for the Arts Festival: A celebration of our artistic landscape 🎨 🍃 A month-long festival, staged by the North York Moors Arts and Culture Partnership, to showcase the diverse and vibrant creative scene in the National Park. Read the full story 👇 www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/about-us/pre...

🔊 Project update. 300 harvest mice were released in 2024, and last week a survey took place to look for their nests. Several were found, including nests that look likely to be used for breeding! The project was supported by Defra under the #FiPL scheme www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/harvestmice

✨ Our Dark Skies Festival... Sit down with a brew and watch as we reflect on the last 10 years and what more we can do to reduce light pollution. There’s still time to join us to celebrate too 👉https://www.darkskiesnationalparks.org.uk/north-york-moors-events youtu.be/Dl_6tn-K85c

"Footpath maintenance is a common job for us, especially at a site like this on the Cleveland Way which is a very popular walking route but at a higher risk of erosion due to its coastal location" www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/blog/the-app... #Apprenticediaries #NAW2025 #ClevelandWay

‪The Apprentice diaries return! Join Tom Pearson as he catches a lift in a helicopter to help drop stone into some of the more inaccessible places on the Coast to Coast. www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/blog/the-app... #NAW2025 #Apprentices #coasttocoast

36.8 hectares of new wildlife rich habitat, 16 new and restored ponds, 4.2 miles of new and restored hedgerows – these are just some of the achievements of year 3 of the Farming in Protected Landscapes here in the North York Moors. Take a look 👇 www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/__data/asset... #FiPL

The final countdown begins! There's just 2 weeks until our 10th Dark Skies Festival kicks off. Prepare for magical nights under the stars, family-friendly events and a celebration of our incredible dark skies. www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/about-us/pre... #DarkSkiesFestival #DSF10 (c) Tony Marsh

After 33 enjoyable years, our National Trails Officer is hanging up his boots! Big shoes to fill, but a fantastic #job opportunity covering Yorkshire Wolds Way, Cleveland Way, parts of the King Charles III England Coast Path and the Coast to Coast Path. 👇 www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/about-us/car...

We're on the road to creating new 'insect superhighways' in the North York Moors National Park. GrubsUp! is a two-year project that will enhance road verges, grasslands and green spaces, all aimed at ensuring that insects can move between sites. Read more www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/about-us/pre...

We’re currently working in partnership with @nationaltrust.bsky.social on restoration work on paths at Roseberry Topping so it remains accessible for years to come and people can reconnect with nature. To mark the completion of the first path, see the work done so far 👇 youtu.be/35ItHQy09PI?...

The countdown has begun to our 10th Dark Skies Festival (14 Feb to 2 March)💫 Get ready to experience the beauty of the stars with activities from guided stargazing to exciting workshops. Check out the programme👉 www.darkskiesnationalparks.org.uk/north-york-m... #DarkSkiesFestival #DSF10 📷Orillo

Happy birthday to the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act! 75 years ago today, this ground-breaking law – described as the “people’s charter for the open air” – was passed through parliament, leading to the creation of the UK’s first National Parks.

72 memories to celebrate the 72nd birthday of the North York Moors National Park 🎉🍃 Thank you to everyone - employees, visitors, volunteers, residents, and businesses - who continue to care for and champion this special place. Please tag us in your favourite snap of the North York Moors today.