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Glover review presents an ‘ambitious shakeup’ for the countryside

Over the weekend the long awaited review of England’s Designated Land

scapes was published. At over 150 pages the report has a raft of 27 recommendations covering every topic from sustainable housing to 1000 new rangers. While there is a lot to cover and Campaign for National Parks is still working on the full details, we wanted to bring you an update at this exciting time in addition to our regular e-newsletter.

Campaign for National Parks was pleased to spend the morning with Julian Glover, author of the report, at the launch of the report on BBC Breakfast.

Click here to read our immediate reaction to the report.

Nature recovery needs to be a priority

That National Parks, and other designated landscapes such as AONBs, do not do well enough for nature comes across strongly in the Designated Landscapes Review.

Our own report on improving nature in the National Parks is cited favourably by the Glover team, particularly drawing on our recommendations for more articulate ambitions for nature in the National Park management plans, and areas of relative wilderness.

Snipe in the Yorkshire Dales. Photo credit: Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority

We are clear that the current, devastating decline in nature in our National Parks is not good enough. National Parks can and should be leading the country in turning around the decline.

Making the National Parks accessible for all

The review also builds on our work to make the Parks accessible to all. It looks at improving the diversity of visitors to designated landscapes, visiting the Parks using sustainable transport and giving every child the chance to experience National Parks or other special landscapes for themselves.

Photo credit: Dartmoor National Park Authority.

Earlier this year we led a campaign to give all children the opportunity to visit the National Parks. This was supported by a number of well-known names including our President, Caroline Quentin, naturalists Liz Bonin and Gordon Buchanan, Bill Bryson, Emma Bridgewater, Sir Andrew Motion and Carol Vorderman.

Janette Ward, Chair of Campaign for National Parks, said: “We are delighted our campaign to give every school child a chance to experience the extraordinary National Parks for themselves is being recommended today. To sit beneath the starry skies, hear the calls of owls and breathe fresh air is a life changing and enriching experience. We are so glad Julian and his team share this view.”

Stronger protections could mean safer Parks

Campaign for National Parks is delighted the Review agreed with our proposals to strengthen the Section 62 Duty. This would see public bodies, for example Highways England, having to further National Park purposes. This would have a huge impact on major development in the National Parks, potentially keeping more of the National Parks safe from road building and other inappropriate development.

Hard work begins now

There is still a lot of detail to work through and over the coming months Campaign for National Parks will be consulting on the full implications of the report, for example further designations and changes to the National Park purposes – both of which are proposed in the report.

Otterburns in Northumberland National Park. Photo: Peter Skelton.

Our Chief Executive Corinne had this to say: “This has the potential to be a step-change for our National Parks but this is only the beginning. We will now be closely examining the detail of the proposals and will be working to ensure that the momentum is maintained by the Government in its response. We would urge the Government to use this as a springboard, to take this opportunity to deliver real leadership on countryside issues.”

We are at the forefront of the fight for better National Parks. Why not become a friend and help us protect and improve the places you love.

What's being said about the Glover Review?

Rather than blogs, this time we thought we'd share some of the reaction to this historic review:

Tony Juniper, Chair of Natural England says the National Parks can be the backbone of nature’s recovery

Mark Avery, on the other hand, says the Review doesn’t go far enough

Richard Leafe, Chief Executive of the Lake District National Park Authority welcomed the ambition of the review

Margaret Paren, Chair of National Parks England called for further resources for the Authorities

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