Events to mark park’s anniversary

The celebrations throughout the year will herald the landmark for the national park, which became the sixth in the UK when it was launched on November 28, 1952.

An £8,000 National Lottery grant awarded by the Arts Council England will finance the celebrations, which start with an exhibition by renowned artists including Peter Hicks, Len Tabner and photographer Joe Cornish.

Another exhibition called Your Place will offer 60 spaces at the Inspired by… Gallery at Danby to up-and-coming artists whose work centres on the North York Moors. The exhibition will be displayed from July 21 to August 19.

Other events include a moorland festival at the Sutton Bank National Park Centre on July 29, and performances by Yorkshire Dance at various locations in July and August.

An exhibition of photographs illustrating the physical and cultural changes which the national park has seen and a short story competition for school children based on unusual place names in the North York Moors are also being planned.