About Nethergill

The soft rushes - Juncus effusus - are woven into the story of Nethergill. Left unmanaged, the “in‑bye” land (the sweeter, more productive pastures close to the farmhouse) would quickly become dominated by rushes, just as it was in the early 1900s.

During the war years, this land was likely pushed into food production, and the rushes would have been cut back hard. More recently, farmers were encouraged to let rushes return in the hope of attracting nesting waders. But nature rarely thrives in absolutes. It’s now understood that a mosaic — patches of rushes alongside open ground — creates the richest mix of habitats. That’s the balance we work to maintain.

Our hay meadows are part of that story too. Once common across the Dales, they are now among the UK’s most threatened habitats, with roughly 97% lost. Restoring them to their old, biodiverse richness is one of our deepest commitments.

Back when Nethergill was a working livestock farm, young trees stood little chance. Sheep grazed freely through the woodland, nibbling off every new shoot and stopping any natural regeneration. That changed in 2007, when a programme to plant 18,000 trees was agreed. Large‑scale planting like this brings a huge lift in biodiversity.

Each tree was planted into a small raised mound - a “dollop” - an upturned scoop of earth that keeps the roots just above the water table and gives immediate access to the mineral layer beneath the peat. It’s a simple technique that gives young trees a strong start.

Since then, a further 12,000 trees and shrubs have been added to create the right mix of habitat for black grouse, short‑eared and long‑eared owls, woodcock and many others. We have also planted the gill sides to help prevent erosion, and introduced low shrubs such as juniper and holly to provide shelter and ground cover for a wider range of birdlife.

Oughtershaw Moss makes up the majority of our land — an exceptionally wet, peat‑rich expanse of around 300 acres. In recent years, the importance of peat as a powerful ally in tackling climate change has been widely recognised.

In the 1960s, government‑funded drainage channels known as “grips” were cut across many upland peatlands. After the war, when food production was paramount, draining these areas became routine to increase grass growth, support more livestock, and feed a growing nation.

In 2016 and again in 2025, the Yorkshire Peat Partnership, part of the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, funded major restoration work on our Moss. The grips were blocked and sphagnum moss was replanted to help re‑wet the landscape. The transformation has been remarkable. Recent vegetation surveys have recorded several rare moss species - plants not seen in North Yorkshire for many years - returning to the site.

Working with the Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust on a project spanning Upper Wharfedale and beyond, we’re helping to slow the flow of water running off the hills and reduce flood risk further downstream. To support this, leaky dams have been installed in several of our becks, along with off‑line ponds that temporarily hold water during spate conditions, easing the pressure on the river system below.

Where riverbanks were eroding, willow bundling has proved especially effective. Bundles of willow branches are tied together, secured with posts and wire, and woven into the bank. The willow roots quickly, creating a dense, living structure that stabilises the bank and prevents further erosion. What began as erosion control has since become a thriving edge of new habitat, rich with life.