Related Projects

Bristol University Research

Meat quality research - The Limestone Country Project has recently linked up with Bristol University, and DEFRA to carry out a four-year research project looking at the healthiness and quality of beef produced from traditional and modern breeds reared on species-rich, unimproved grasslands.

The purpose of this project is to identify the role of unimproved flower-rich pastures and traditional breeds in achieving high levels of healthiness and quality in beef. Comparisons will be made with improved pasture and intensive (concentrate) feeding and modern commercial breeds. Beef tissue components likely to be influenced by grazing flower-rich grasslands or by breed type include n-3 (omega-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E. These components of the beef collectively influence beef healthiness, shelf life and flavour. The eating quality of beef will be assessed by trained taste panels, by a consumer panel and by customers purchasing beef from specialist traditional butchers. The overall aim is to develop an objective basis for branding the advantages of beef produced from traditional breeds on biodiverse grassland. It also provides a basis for economic sustainability for beef producers through developing a specialist market for healthy, high quality meat.

For more information, please visit the Defra website (site opens in a new window).

Alternatively, download the short article below that summarizes the initial findings of the work:

Meat quality research: Summary of initial findings

Learning in Limestone Country 2005-08

This programme will draw on the rich and varied natural, cultural and built heritage of the area and develop opportunities for wider access to understanding and appreciating this special landscape. The aim is to inspire the participants in the project through the heritage of the project area and develop an appreciation and association with it. Much of the work will be centred around English Nature’s Ingleborough National Nature Reserve (NNR) and the Malham Tarn NNR owned by the National Trust. It will provide a wide range of opportunities through a team of 2 / 3 staff including:

Interpreted day visits to heritage sites by local school groups and communities as well as regional groups from areas in West Yorkshire and North Lancashire.
Interpreted residential heritage experiences from regional urban areas.
Create a new range of resources to interpret the area.
Create an accredited range of courses exploring the area’s heritage.
Create an accredited range of courses developing heritage skills.
Provide two 18 month traineeships for graduates to develop careers in environmental education.

Schools Out

This part of the programme will enable specific sites to be accessed by school groups and enable high quality experiences based on interpretation, investigation and self-discovery. These will be provided by the employed specialist staff, local people with an intimate knowledge of the area and volunteers. The main educational themes in the project area will be:

Walking with Wildlife – wildlife habitats and ecology.
Landscape Explorers – the geology and physical landscape .
Signs of the Times – historic sites, events and human activity

The intention of this programme is that expert tuition and equipment are very much part of the experience. A long-term benefit is that teachers accompanying the groups will work with group tutors with both benefiting from the shared experience and knowledge. Preliminary classroom sessions will take place to prepare groups for the outdoor visit and add value to the experience which will be linked to the National Curriculum. The costs of coach or minibus hire will be provided as will waterproofs, wellington boots and walking boots, which will enable schools to undertake outdoor activities safely.

Resources

While there is a high level of educational resources and information available for the Malham Moor and Malham Tarn National Nature Reserves there is a shortage of quality information for the Ingleborough area, including the NNRs and Sites of Special Scientific Interest. The programme will provide:

Accessible information for Key Stage 2 / 3 teachers and pupils covering a range of historic, natural and human areas in paper based and CD Rom format which will also be posted on suitable websites for widespread use.
High level heritage information on NNRs, SSSI and sites of historic interest available in leaflet and web-based formats through involvement of local community and special interest groups.

Our Heritage in the Dales

This will develop a highly successful earlier pilot scheme, bringing 180 Year 8 students annually from targeted school clusters from the urban centres of Keighley and Bradford with each visiting group of 60 drawn from all schools in their cluster. Based at Malham Tarn Field Centre, they will have an intensive exposure to the heritage of the area and will interpret this experience through a variety of media, supported by artists, poets, dramatists, technicians and teachers.

Community Links

The Community Officer, based near Ingleborough will work towards making the National Nature Reserves valued and appreciated by both local communities and those targeted in West Yorkshire and North Lancashire. Activities will include engagement of local community groups, events, walks and projects and close links with the Schools Out programme. There will be a similar focus regarding the themes of interest without the curriculum involvement.

An exciting challenge will be to involve individuals and groups who currently do not visit the area for financial, physical and cultural reasons. A goal of this programme will be to work with other organisations to overcome barriers to participation and enable sectors of society who are generally excluded to visit and enjoy the area.

Heritage studies and skills training

This will be developed in partnership with the School of Heritage Studies at Craven College of Further Education based in Skipton. It will be a programme of heritage related courses accredited through the Open College network focusing on the natural, built, cultural and archaeological heritage of the area. Courses will also be developed and delivered developing the understanding and practical use of heritage-based skills. These will aim to increase awareness and high quality competence in practical skills for professionals, volunteers, students, contractors and the general public.