The celebratory weekend was an annual event for Community Champions – ambassadors of national parks in their local communities – to get together and discuss achievements over the past year.

As many as 80 people stayed at Whitby Youth Hostel over the weekend which provided a place to relax after a guided tour of Whitby, canoeing on the Esk at Ruswarp, a trip to Robin Hood’s Bay and a morning at The Moors National Park Centre in Danby.

The work has been carried out under the Mosaic Partnership, a three-year project led by the Council for National Parks in conjunction with the Youth Hostel Association and the North York Moors, Yorkshire Dales, Peak District and Brecon Beacons National Parks.

This year’s weekend was particularly significant as the Mosaic Partnership draws to a close in the autumn and discussions centred around how the good work already done can be continued.

Julie Lawrence, director of information, education and visitor services said: “We have made some strong links with BME groups local to the North York Moors – many of whom had never visited the national park before.

“The Mosaic Partnership is about increasing awareness of the special qualities of national parks among BME groups.

“The challenge for us as an authority is to work with our Community Champions to build on the excellent achievements so far, to ensure we continue to provide the opportunities for people from BME backgrounds to experience the North York Moors once the project comes to an end.”