Exhibition to celebrate history and wildlife

A new exhibition room at the National Trust office in Marsden officially opens tomorrow.

The re-vamped exhibition links in with a heritage trail launched last September, celebrating the history and wildlife of the area.

It is hoped that they will inform both locals and visitors about the story of Marsden and how its surrounding moorland has shaped the history of the village.

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People can also learn about the work the National Trust is doing on the estate to help rejuvenate the landscape and its wildlife.

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) awarded a grant of 38,400 to establish new interpretation of the moor, telling the natural, historical and archaeological stories of the Marsden Moor Estate.

Fiona Spiers, head of HLF Yorkshire and the Humber, said: "This is a fantastic project which will enable members of the local community and visitors to learn about Marsden Moor's internationally significant heritage through self-guided and guided walks, an exhibition and a series of educational activities."

The HLF award was granted to a partnership comprising of the National Trust, British Waterways and Kirklees Council.

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Help was also received from the Marsden History Group, the Huddersfield Canal Society and Highley Sugden, through the National Trust Peak District Centre.

Leaflets for the heritage trail routes are available at the National Trust office and local tourist information points.

The leaflets act as a guide to explore the moor, best used with an Ordinance Survey map, and point out the key areas of interest in the Marsden area.

A total of 5,685 acres at Marsden are cared for by The National Trust.

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The moors are common land but as well as providing grazing for sheep and cattle, the estate supports a wide range of moorland birds such as golden plover, red grouse, curlew snipe and the diminutive twite.

The moor is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and is part of an International Special Protection Area.