Bellfields Pasture (c) John Potter
Wild Ingleborough
A landscape-scale conservation project creating a wilder, more resilient future in the spectacular Yorkshire Dales
From the valley floor to the top of the mountain, we are restoring a flourishing habitat for wildlife and wildflowers.
Wild Ingleborough has the potential to be one of the most important limestone landscapes in the world, but we have a mountain to climb!
Mountain pansies - (C) John Potter
Donate to create a wilder Ingleborough
(C) John Potter
Wild Ingleborough: a vision for the future
The protection, restoration and reconnection of a wilder Ingleborough is ambitious, and we are working with many partners including Natural England, WWF, United Bank of Carbon, Leeds University and The Woodland Trust.
Together, we are already starting to make a difference for wildlife and people in this unique and iconic Yorkshire landscape.
Our partnership undertakes landscape-scale restoration from the valley floor to the top of the mountain. This work aids nature’s recovery by supporting low intensity farming, and helping our wildlife to be more resilient in the face of the climate emergency.
In some areas we've planted native trees to create woodland and in other areas the vegetation has been allowed to regenerate naturally. Animals, especially cattle, are being grazed to create a patchwork of different habitats — encouraging trees and shrubs to grow on the upper slopes of the mountain.
Our team has been working with local people and visitors to the Dales from the outset, involving them in the development of the project. Together we can support a thriving economy based around restorative farming, and enhance nature tourism as well as local biodiversity.
Working with landowners, farmers and communities, we'll share skills and knowledge to connect existing nature reserves and create an area of land that allows wildlife to thrive. Large-scale habitat restoration benefits people as well as wildlife in all sorts of ways, through carbon capture, flood reduction, job creation and improving water quality and soil health.
Ingleborough is already a popular destination, but the project will support responsible access and enable more people to get closer to nature in the coming years.
Wild Ingleborough will inform future policy and help sustain resilient rural communities. And working with the local community is crucial as we explore different options for a vision of a landscape with people, climate and nature at its heart.
Our scientific and ambitious approaches in restoration are starting to show flourishing results which we’re eager to continue and expand.
Yorkshire’s iconic limestone landscape and its unique species need our help before it’s too late.
Introducing Ingleborough's icons
Home to some of the best limestone pavements in the country, brightly coloured grassland wildflowers and extremely rare plants, our great mountain sits in a truly unique and special landscape.
Learn about the icons that call Ingleborough home.
Teesdale violet (c) WWF-UK
Plants & Fungi
Discover more
(c) Curlew - Judith Greaves
Birds
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Northern Brown Argus, Brae Pasture
Insects
Discover moreBigger, better, more joined up
Wild Ingleborough is a unique opportunity to restore landscape on a massive scale.
We want our wildlife to have as much space as possible to expand, explore and thrive, and for that space to be managed sensitively for nature and local communities. Working in collaboration with Natural England, our reserves and the National Nature Reserve cover 1,300 hectares — and there is opportunity and enthusiasm to restore much more.
Bellfields Pasture (c) John Potter
Mountain-top news
Keep up to date with all the latest Ingleborough news and fascinating insights into the area — from breathtaking landscapes and ongoing nature recovery, to protecting endemic species and restoring habitats.
Stay connected and be part of the journey towards protecting, restoring and reconnecting Ingleborough's rolling hilltops and incredible wildlife.
Join the mountain movement
Passionate about iconic Ingleborough and want to play an active role? We have many options for you to get involved! From practical task days to volunteering and events, there are loads of ways to make a positive and lasting impact of your own.
Nearby nature reserves
Immerse yourself in Ingleborough and explore our nearby nature reserves.
Renowned for wildlife, geology and spectacular upland scenery, the area is also steeped in archaeological history — surveys even uncovered an iron-age fort on our new reserve Ashes Shaw! Recent purchases of Ashes Shaw and Bellfield’s Pasture are helping us expand this space for wildlife. They came under our care thanks to the generosity of the local community and long term supporters.
Plan your next Wild Ingleborough adventure.
Southerscales Limestone-pavement at Ingleborough (c) David Berry