Goodbye 2020, Hello 2021...

Welcome to our last newsletter of the year. Before we shift our attention onto the year ahead, we wanted to reflect on the past 12 months.

2020 has proved a challenging year for us - as it has for most - but as a small, agile organisation we made it through, and have had the chance to change how we do things.

We took some of our activity online, which had the benefit of not only saving money and time, but also of engaging with new audiences. It was also a year of key staff changes - with us saying goodbye to many of our team and welcoming some new faces, giving us another opportunity to revisit how we approach things.

Amid all the uncertainty, we continued to be a voice for National Parks with Government, for example:

• Leading the ‘Glover Coalition’ of NGOs including the Wildlife Trusts, Ramblers, National Trust, RSPB, YHA, Nature-friendly Farming Network and the Open Spaces Society in urging the Government to respond to last year's Glover Review
• Producing a position statement on new National Parks and reflecting on the role that National Parks could, and should, play in a Green Recovery
• Highlighting the need to strengthen planning protections for National Parks in our response to the Draft Planning White Paper (read our consultation responses here)
• Submitting evidence to the Transport Select Committee emphasising the importance of sustainable modes of transport in making National Parks accessible for everyone while protecting these valuable landscapes

Thank you for your support this Christmas!

A big thank you to everyone who supported our #13DaysofChristmas campaign, whether you made a donation or liked or shared one of our social media posts - and to our members and Friends who support us week-in, week-out. We are a very small charity with just four members of staff but we have big ambitions when it comes to campaigning to protect and improve National Parks in England and Wales. Together we can make a big difference. There is still time to donate to the campaign, simply visit the donation page on our website. Thanks again.

Countryside Jobs Service partnership

Campaign for National Parks has been chosen as Countryside Jobs Service's (CJS) featured charity for 2021. CJS works across the environmental, nature, wildlife and countryside conservation sector. Their website carries details of news, events, feature articles from industry insiders and recruitment within this sector. Read our first article for them here.

Countryside Code refresh - have your say

In response to a rise in the number of people getting out into the countryside and exploring our National Parks, Natural England shared a shorter version of the Countryside Code to engage new visitors this summer. It is now planning on refreshing the Countryside Code and wants your views. Have your say before the consultation closes at 5pm on 11 January 2021 via this link.

We are now on Instagram!