Time for some new National Parks 

National Parks help improve young people’s health and life chances

The past months of lockdown have been a stark reminder that access to nature is vital for all communities’ health and wellbeing. Children and young people were among those most affected by Covid-19 restrictions. 

A recent ONS survey found that 42% of young people felt that lockdown had made their mental health worse and that some were likely to experience long-term depression and anxiety as a result. Long before the current pandemic, rising obesity levels were a growing concern, with only one in four boys and one in five girls in England achieving the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity each day. 

There is compelling evidence that regular contact with the natural environment can help address these challenges. Our National Parks play a vital role in connecting children and young people with nature and in enabling them to enjoy the great outdoors. Their work helps promote good physical and mental health and provides educational experiences and career opportunities. 

From apprenticeship and junior ranger schemes to designing and building “wild play” areas, National Parks help develop resilient, more confident and independent young people. These schemes can also offer great value for money: the North Yorkshire Moors National Park’s Young Ranger and Explorer Club Programmes demonstrated that for every pound of investment created the equivalent six pounds in value for participants and society. 

This and other examples from around the National Parks are showcased in the recent report on Youth Engagement, Health and Wellbeing: the Role of National Parks.  

(Photo of CNP's Mosaic youth project participants cycling in the Northumberland National Park by Liam Moss)

How proposed planning reforms could benefit National Parks 

On 6 August the Government published Planning for the Future which sets out plans for a major reform of the planning system in England. These include proposals to change key aspects of the current system which have been in place for decades and which play a critically important part in the protection and enhancement of our National Parks and the well-being of the communities who live in them. But this document makes almost no reference to National Parks, a worrying omission given that National Park Authorities (NPAs) have responsibility for both plan-making and planning decisions in their area.

We have lots of questions about the proposed changes as there is insufficient detail to judge exactly what the Government is proposing in some cases. However, what is clear is that the Government should take this opportunity to address weaknesses in the current planning system by implementing some of the key proposals in the Glover Review.  

There is a consultation on the proposals which runs until 29 October 2020, so we shall be preparing our response over the next couple of months.

Meanwhile, the Welsh Government has published Building Better Places which highlights how existing planning policies and tools can be used to help Wales recover from Covid-19. Among other things, this emphasises the key role that the planning system plays in securing green infrastructure and supporting nature's recovery. 

John Foster 1920 - 2020

As the first director of the UK’s first National Park, in the Peak District, and then as head of the Countryside Commission for Scotland, John Foster, who has died aged 99, was a pioneer of the protection and public enjoyment of landscapes in the UK. Kate Ashbrook looks back on his life here. 

Further listening…