The Lime and Ice conservation project in North Yorkshire has been given the green light, following a £500,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The five-year project will concentrate on the area around Sutton Bank, which overlaps the North York Moors National Park and the Howardian Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Lime and Ice will work with communities to increase their understanding of their local heritage, by providing guided walks and educational projects that explain the forces behind the landscape and the impact of human activity. The site includes Iron Age forts, the remains of a medieval castle, valleys, escarpments and veteran tree species.

The bid was developed by the Hambleton and Howardian Hills CAN DO (Cultural and Natural Development Opportunity) partnership. This was on behalf of all CAN DO partners; The North York Moors National Park Authority, Natural England, English Heritage, Forestry Commission, Environment Agency, the local authorities and the Howardian Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Fiona Spiers, head of the Heritage Lottery Fund in Yorkshire and the Humber, said: "The Lime and Ice Project will open up one of Yorkshire's significant landscapes to a wider audience, raising awareness and providing a deeper understanding of the breadth of heritage that is accessible in the area.

"This project will provide a unique opportunity for the local community to influence and make decisions about their local heritage, actively encouraging them to learn about the history of the local area through a variety of means."