Rescue for 'poorly equipped' Snowdon walkers

A party of three was rescued from Snowdon after taking an evening walk up the mountain to visit the café – which was pulled down last year.The two men and a woman, described by mountain rescuers as ‘poorly equipped’ were found by an RAF helicopter using a thermal-imaging camera after they phoned emergency services around 10pm.The walkers were trapped on the Pyg Track and were said to be wearing jeans and sweatshirts.

Have you seen a Green Hairstreak?

Walkers are being asked to turn wildlife detectives to help a unique species.The Green Hairstreak butterfly is the only on in Britain to have green wings, and conservation experts are turning to the outdoors public to help them spot them.The Green Hairstreak butterfly The charity Butterfly Conservation and the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA) have teamed up to run the survey of sightings of the distinctive insect, which this year has appeared two weeks earlier than usual.

Miliband tells Kinder meeting: land is a public good

Environment Secretary David Miliband joined more than 300 people at a celebration today of the 75th anniversary of the Kinder Scout mass trespass.Mr Miliband, seen by many as a future leader of the Labour Party, told the gathering at the Peak District town of New Mills, that land is a public good.

Abseil trio disturbs Dales falcons

The peace of the famous Malham peregrine falcons has been disturbed by three people abseiling down the 80m cove where they are nesting.The three were seen by Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) members last Sunday descending the left-hand side of the crag, despite notices warning of climbing restrictions.rag.The Malham falcons, above right.

Ribblehead viaduct tickets go on sale

Tickets have gone on sale for the July walk across Ribblehead viaduct.Ribblehead viaduct, with Ingleborough, Simon Fell and Park Fell behind itOrganisers say you should act now if you want to take part, because numbers are limited.

Kinder trespass remembered this weekend

Walkers have the chance to follow in some influential footprints this weekend.The Peak District town of New Mills will be alive with history as politicians, comedians, actors, campaigners and just bog-standard ramblers converge to celebrate the anniversary of the Kinder Scout mass trespass.Trespassers set off for Kinder, April 1932It’s 75 years since Benny Rothman and his shabby horde of young walkers confronted the establishment on the slopes of the Peak’s highest hill and set in motion events that still resonate.

Minister signals go-ahead for coastal access

Environment Secretary David Miliband has signalled he will accept Natural England’s proposals to set up a right-to-roam corridor around England’s coastline.Left: David Miliband and Kate Ashbrook of the Ramblers' Association at the celebration of the first anniversary of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act in West YorkshireMr Miliband, who is being touted by many in the Labour Party as a successor to Tony Blair, will have gained support among many of the party’s traditional supporters, including those in the outdoor movement who see the right-to-roam as central to the party’s manifesto commitment to opening up the countryside.As the Ramblers’ Association (RA) and other campaigners prepare to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Kinder Scout mass trespass, which many see as the pivotal event in the long struggle for access to Britain’s wild upland, the Environment Secretary told The Independent on Sunday that he would push through the proposals to create a corridor which would shift automatically inland if coastal erosion occurred – bypassing the mapping nightmare which made the Countryside and Rights of Way Act’s (CRoW Act) introduction so protracted.

Law gives added protection to village greens

Campaigners are welcoming a new law which gives increased protection to village greens.From tomorrow, Good Friday, a section of the Commons Act 2006 comes into force, limiting one of the ways landowners can thwart registration of land as a green. Nicola Hodgson, the Open Spaces Society’s case officer, said:  “This clarification of the law will make it easier for people to apply to register land as a town or village green, thereby saving it from development and securing its enjoyment by the local population.

Dales website adds activities section

A National Park authority has added a new section to its website to encourage activities in its area.Left: walkers in the Yorkshire Dales, with Ingleborough in the distance  The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority has launched a Getting Active section to its site, to encourage visitors to do something physical in the Dales, whether it’s a gentle stroll, a fell run or a stint of rockclimbing.