IT'S celebration time on the moors above Marsden.
Golden jubilee celebrations are being held this year as the National Trust marks 50 years of ownership of the Marsden Moor estate.
More than 50 events and activities have been arranged to celebrate the occasion.
The 2,300-hectare (5,685-acre) estate was given to the trust in 1955 by the sixth Baronet Radcliffe, Capt Sir Joseph Benedict Everard Henry Radcliffe, instead of death duties, after his father, Sir Everard Henry Joseph Radcliffe, of Rudding Park, near Harrogate, died.
It is a haven for wildlife and has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Birdlife on the moors includes such rare species as golden plovers, dunlins, twites, ring ouzels, red grouse and curlews.
The estate's plant communities are also notable.
Head warden Richard Humpidge said activities to mark the jubilee would take place throughout the year.
They start with Cuckoo Day on Saturday April 23.
The property manager for the Marsden Moor estate, Guy Laurie, said: "The site is of international importance for its wildlife but is also enjoyed by countless thousands of visitors every year.
"All the hard work restoring the moorland over the last few decades has meant that rare breeding birds are doing well, compared to national trends.
"As the land is owned by the National Trust they will be here for generations to come.
"By holding these events we want to thank the local community for its help and support over the years. We hope everyone gets the chance to be involved."
Four walks have been planned, to cover each corner of the estate.
There will also be a Moorland Festival between April 23 and August 9, a plant fair on May 15, a kite day on June 19, a five-hour horse ride on July 31 and a musical extravaganza in Marsden Parish Church.
For more information on the celebrations send an SAE to The National Trust, The Old Goods Yard, Marsden HD7 6DH, or phone 01484 847016.
