A NATIONAL park exchange was held for apprentices from Exmoor and North York Moors to expand their knowledge of countryside management.

They spent a week in each other’s parks this summer, swapping path-laying and bridge-building skills.

In the North York Moors, the students were shown how recycled flagstones from the old mills of West Yorkshire were used to prevent path erosion – a common problem along popular routes – and how bridges and other “national park furniture” are made on site in the sawmill.

They saw first-hand how the popular Coast to Coast route is maintained and learned how the area’s long history of mining is managed to minimise impact on the landscape.

The following month, it was Exmoor’s turn to host, sharing lessons in how timber grown on the moor is used to make handmade gates, signs and stiles to help maintain the rights of way network.

The group also went on a dragonfly identification course to learn about the many rare species found on Exmoor, and found out about ‘Ranger Experience Days’, giving people the chance to go behind the scenes at the national park and see places visitors rarely go.