Tough new laws are being demanded by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust to protect mountains like Whernside in the Yorkshire Dales National Park which is being over-grazed by sheep.

The YWT want new rules introduced to cover Sites of Special Scientific Interest in a review of wildlife sites by the Government.

It aims to sharpen the penalties for people who deliberately damage SSSIs. Stephen Warburton, YWT conservation manager, said the Government proposals were a step in the right direction but outmoded planning permissions, which were allowing sites to be damaged, must be changed.

"On Whernside we see the possibility of SSSI status being removed because overgrazing by sheep has destroyed much of its wildflower grassland,'' he said. He blamed the Common Agriculture Police, not farmers, because the Europen Union gave payments per head of sheep rather than payments based on the area of land being grazed by sheep.

"As a consequence, farmers, many of whom wish to see SSSI's flourish, are driven into running more and more stock on the land they have.''

European Union policy also caused increased soil erosion because of lack of vegetation to bind the earth together. Hillsides were denuded, rain rushed into rivers and caused increased flooding.

The YWT always said that SSSI designation should mean absolute protection and that all loopholes should be closed, added Mr Warburton.

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