How a Yorkshire Dales spring is helping power a holiday let and a classroom

Electricity is also being fed into the National Grid sufficient to power a further three homes. The hydro started generating electricity in June.

Kingsdale Head was awarded a grant of £26,000 from the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority’s Sustainable Development Fund, which covered about a third of the cost of the installation.

Jamie McEwan, Conservation and Farm Manager at Kingsdale Head since 2020, said: “The hydro gives us options as to how we develop the farm business. It’s been an expensive project, so it wouldn’t have been possible without the Sustainable Development Fund.

“One of our big opportunities is to invite people up here to share what we are doing. The hydro scheme is part of the story for the farm and it’s something we can talk to people about.”

Seven Members of the National Park Authority recently visited Kingsdale Head last week to learn about ‘nature recovery’ on the 600-hectare largely moorland holding.

The Authority’s Member Champion for the Natural Environment, Mark Corner, said: “We have been pleased to support conservation work at Kingsdale Head Farm for many years now.

"What’s so impressive is the long term commitment to farming in a way that is helping to bring back nature, as well as the warmth of welcome given to groups looking to learn about sustainable land management practices.

“We are delighted that the Sustainable Development Fund has been able to assist the business.”

Mr Corner said that the Authority is looking to support a further 15 projects that benefit local businesses, communities and the environment.

He said: "I would encourage people to get in touch if they have a project idea. The SDF is just one of several funding schemes that we have available – and we can help people find the right package of support.”

The Sustainable Development Fund – which can support a wide range of projects – is currently inviting fresh applications and has £155,000 to award in the year to next March.

Other farm diversification projects that have benefitted from the Sustainable Development Fund are at Home Farm, in Aysgarth, which not only processes its own milk and sells direct to the consumer through a mobile vending unit, but then also begun to make its own raw milk cheese with the help of £9,500.

Refurbishment of the Games Room to provide Conference facilities at Grassington Devonshire Institute was made possible after an award of £4,094 and the purchase and conversion of a new incident control vehicle to ensure public safety, helped Swaledale Mountain Rescue Team with £10,000 grant.