(C) Finn Varney
Wild Ingleborough
Protecting, restoring and reviving Yorkshire’s rarest upland landscape.
Ingleborough is home to rare species...
The Ingleborough National Nature Reserve, managed by Natural England and Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, comprises a rich and varied mosaic of habitats set within Ingleborough's internationally significant limestone landscape. These habitats already host a wide range of diverse species, several of which are nationally scarce or even unique to Ingleborough. But many of these species are just clinging on in fragmented populations, facing pressure from changes in land use and an increasingly unpredictable climate.
Working with our partners and communities, we are bolstering these populations through our joined-up approach to land management. Our vision is of a mountain where wildlife can thrive and find its niche, from the valley floor to the summit ridge.
Limestone pavement - Southerscales - (C) Graham Standring
Ingleborough could be a lifeline
Thousands of years of human activity and a dramatically changing climate mean that one in six UK species now face extinction.
But Ingleborough could be a lifeline.
The range of habitats supported by its unusual geology means Ingleborough has the potential to be one of the most important limestone landscapes in the world, supporting hundreds of rare and precious species.
Towards a wilder future
Our restoration of Wild Ingleborough began in earnest in 2021, and we are starting to see exciting results.
Through a balance of interventions, we are improving and expanding a mosaic of different habitats — from blanket bog and limestone grassland, to wood pasture and the unique limestone pavement that makes Ingleborough so remarkable — to support a diverse range of species, and secure the mountain's future as a wildlife-rich landscape.
