North York Moors National Park Centres Celebrate 50 Years

Celebrations begin in April to mark 50 years of the North York Moors National Park Centres. The events will highlight how both Sutton Bank and Danby Lodge have gone from being simple visitor information points to attractions in their own right where people can spend a nature-filled free and fun day out.

On 3 April, Sutton Bank National Park Centre will be kicking off the celebrations with a day of live music including modern shanty group, the Saltburn Smugglers; craft activities for the kids; ‘have a go’ sessions for circus skills and archaeological digging; and the launch of a new beer called the ‘Finest Brew’ in honour of James Herriot declaring Sutton Bank to be the ‘finest view’.  A selection of guided walks will also be in the offing, showcasing the dramatic escarpment views.

Then on 4 May, Danby Lodge National Park Centre will be marking its birthday with a garden party designed to make the most of the stunning location. The day will be filled with similar activities to Sutton Bank’s birthday, together with a guided walk from Danby Lodge.

The anniversary year will culminate in November with a special exhibition at the Inspired by… gallery at Danby Lodge reflecting on five decades of art made at both National Park Centres.

The milestone year underlines how far both sites have come from their modest beginnings back in 1976, when the National Park first earmarked them as places where they could engage more with visitors and showcase how the North York Moors could be accessed for everybody to enjoy and help support their wellbeing. Today, almost 250,000 people visit Sutton Bank and Danby Lodge each year.

Now, along with contemporary cafes, indoor nature exhibitions, outdoor play areas, sculpture trails, nature watching and stargazing facilities, both Danby Lodge and Sutton Bank have their own distinct identities.

Sutton Bank’s geography and plethora of Public Rights of Way has suited its development as a walking and cycling hub, complete with pump track, bike hire, cycling skills sessions and events, and a network of trails. Its purpose-built bike skills area has recently received an overhaul, including a brand-new loop with rollers, berms and play features, to help young riders build confidence and skills.

Meanwhile Danby Lodge’s location has a greater leaning towards arts and wellbeing, with the Inspired by… gallery complemented by creative workshop sessions and ‘The Moment’ art trail, Land of Iron exhibition, the new state-of-the-art observatory known as the Dark Skies Station, and the Reflective area outside where people can simply sit and enjoy the peace. For youngsters, the Danby Den outdoor adventure playground offers plenty of scope for burning off some energy.

More recently, both National Park Centres have further developed their accessibility, including the provision of Changing Places toilets, Tramper hire and the creation of trails and nature areas designed to suit people with different requirements.

Joel Brookfield, the North York Moors National Park’s Director of Recreation & Wellbeing comments: “We’re extremely proud of both our National Park Centres, which serve so many people; helping them to be inspired by the landscape and reconnect with nature, as well as discover how much fun it can be to put down their mobiles and get active outside.

“Importantly, whether it’s spying galaxies through powerful telescopes, spotting a pair of rare Turtle Doves, or finding out what lives in a dry stone wall, both Danby Lodge and Sutton Bank also help people leave with a new appreciation of the natural world and how it can be protected.”

To find out more about the National Park Centres’ celebrations, CLICK HERE

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‍Header: An early image from the North York Moors National Park (Paul Grantham)