• One of our popular sustainable farming talks

We are the leading voice campaigning for a sustainable future for the Yorkshire Dales.

Join our charity to help keep this inspirational but fragile landscape special and vibrant for years to come.

Sign up for our monthly e news
Join us / Renew
Donate

Visit our Policies page to read our Statement on Climate Breakdown

Latest News

  • Friends of the Dales 42nd Annual General Meeting
    The Friends of the Dales 42nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) will take place on Saturday 27 September 2025 at Bolton Abbey Village Hall from 10:45am to 12:15pm. 👉 View the Annual Report and Accounts 2024–25 and member mailout here. Afternoon Programme: Talks & Panel Discussion As part of the charity’s new direction, we are hosting … Read more
  • Geese fly over a wetland
    Hellifield Flashes – On the Edge
    Controversial proposals for a major leisure development on wetlands close to the Yorkshire Dales National Park boundary could have a devastating impact on important winter feeding grounds supporting large numbers of wading birds. Executive director of Friends of the Dales, Ann Shadrake finds hope in new legislation that will oblige planners to consider the special … Read more
  • Inspiring a New Generation of National Park Leaders
    A recent event in the Yorkshire Dales brought together 18 passionate young people aged 18–30, as part of the New Perspectives programme − a Heritage Lottery funded initiative run by Campaign for National Parks. This three-day residential in Malham, North Yorkshire, aimed to empower the next generation of national park leaders by focusing on leadership … Read more
  • Our Response to the YDNPA Management Plan 2025-2030 Consultation
    An often-overlooked function of our small charity is its team of experienced (volunteer!) former planners and environmentalists who scrutinise all significant planning applications to the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA). Each year it comments, supports or objects on more than forty applications noting alignment (or not) with the YDNPA’s published policies, in particular those … Read more
  • Write for our Magazine!
    For several years we have been actively involving young people in our campaigning work, in particular through our Creative Campaigners group open to those aged 20-30, as we are aware that the future sustainability of the Yorkshire Dales will be shaped by the next generation. We are now seeking contributions for the summer 2025 issue … Read more

Our Work

Campaign

We have more than 40 years experience in taking direct action on issues of critical importance to the Dales. These include affordable housing, rural bus services, biodiversity, green lanes, pollution, farming, landscape conservation – plus many others!

Campaigns

Protect

We are advocates for the Dales, lobbying government and intervening where appropriate. We monitor significant planning applications and comment on many each year – supporting those we believe are right for the Dales. We also host events to raise awareness of issues, such as the pollution caused by using plastic tree guards and the degradation of our peatlands.

Planning Comments

Enjoy

We run a variety of walks, digital talks and volunteer events throughout the year which are free for all to attend and a great way to meet others passionate about conservation issues. Getting out in to nature is also beneficial to mental health and wellbeing.

Events

DalesBus

Sustainable transport is one of our aims for the Dales, which is why we set up DalesBus. Run by our social enterprise company Dales & Bowland CIC, volunteers organise, fundraise and publicise the services, with the buses run by bus companies or community providers. For timetables – see DalesBus

DalesBus runs on Sundays and bank holidays throughout the summer (with some in the winter) across the Yorkshire Dales, linking into bus and train services across the region. Perfect for enjoying the Dales in an environmentally friendly way!

Capturing the Past

The ‘land army’ at Horton in Ribblesdale during World War II

Capturing the Past is the project we set up to train people and groups from across the Yorkshire Dales to catalogue and digitise their own local history archives. The current collection of more than 25 archives is freely available to the public through our dedicated Yorkshire Dales Community Archives website.

This project was initially funded through Stories in Stone, a programme of conservation and community projects concentrated in the Ingleborough area. The scheme was developed by the Ingleborough Dales Landscape Partnership and is supported by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund. To discuss adding your archive to the site, visit Yorkshire Dales Community Archive.