Supporter, National Parks in England and Wales are on a precipice; threats are mounting but change is happening too slowly – It’s time to transform National Park governance.

There are some brilliant people currently working within National Parks at all levels, but their efforts are continually hampered by rules that constrain diversity, innovation and nature recovery, as well as dictating who can make final decisions.

Right now, we have a once in a generation opportunity to overhaul the systems in place, will you help us reshape the future of National Parks?

NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY BOARDS

The independent Glover Review of English National Parks, concluded that the way these Boards operate is “poor” because they are “far too large to be effective”, are “lacking in diversity” and “lacking people who emphasise the purposes of securing nature and connecting people”. Like us – many Board members and Park staff were “exasperated at the system”. 

The Auditor General for Wales has also highlighted weaknesses in National Park Authority governance, including “lack of diversity” and urged Welsh Government to reform the model to ensure it is “fit for purpose” for both the new and existing Parks.

RESHAPING NATIONAL PARKS

Last year the UK Government committed to making new laws to reform how English National Parks are governed, and the Welsh Government has committed to an ‘exemplar’ National Park in north east Wales with a new governance model.

We’re calling on Minister Mary Creagh in England and Minister Huw Irranca-Davies in Wales to reform National Park Authority Boards by holding them to their promises.

Together we can fix outdated, unrepresentative, ineffective systems and radically reimagine our Parks.

This is a real opportunity to make a monumental change in our National Parks.
Harriet Gardiner
Senior Communications Officer