2021 – A step along the way towards a brighter future for our National Parks
A message from Chief Executive Rose O’Neill
This last year, like the one before, has been a strange one. There have been challenges and frustrations as the pandemic rolls on but there have also been many new adventures in National Parks – and my own in joining Campaign for National Parks! And, thanks to you, our wonderful supporters, partners and volunteers, there have been many reasons to be cheerful thinking about the future of our National Parks.
We’ve kept up the momentum and pressure on Governments in Westminster and the Senedd to bring policy and legislation for our National Parks up to the 21st century. We published our National Parks and the Climate Emergency report to make the case clear for urgent policy change.
Next year, we will take forward our campaign to secure necessary legislation to ensure that National Parks do more for nature, climate and people. There's opportunities afoot as governments plan for an Agriculture (Wales) Bill, a planning bill in England and promised legislation arising from the much-delayed Westminster Government response to Julian Glover’s Landscapes Review (now expected in January). Read more in our latest blog for Wildlife and Countryside Link.
Our discussions at our AGM and Council meeting last month was focussed on National Parks of the future, featuring perspectives from different partners across the UK (see videos here) and highlighting huge opportunities for us to work together this coming year.
Our work is only possible with your help and support to build and grow the movement for our National Parks – so thank you. Please reset and recharge and enjoy the outdoors over the festive period - that's what we plan to do. The Campaign for National Parks office will be closed from 23 December 2021 until 3 January 2022. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
National Parks: New Perspectives bursaries – winners revealed!
We are very pleased to be able to reveal the first 10 winners of our new National Parks: New Perspectives bursary scheme. The new scheme, run in partnership with Ocean City Media, will support 10 young storytellers with grants of £1,000 each, plus training and mentoring, to share their stories from National Parks in England and Wales. The young people – aged 19 to 35 – will begin work in the New Year and will submit their stories by June 2022.
The winners are:
Emily Abdeni-Holman - Northumberland National Park, Peak District National Park and Lake District National Park
Erika Cann - Dartmoor National Park
Charlotte Ditchburn - Lake District National Park
Timothy Gallagher - Yorkshire Dales National Park
Ruth Garrett - Yorkshire Dales National Park
David Hill - Snowdonia National Park and how different people use it
Tony Karoly - Brecon Beacons National Park
Kwesia (a.k.a. City Girl In Nature) - South Downs National Park
Saira Niazi - South Downs National Park
Amira Patel covering all National Parks in England & Wales
Campaign for National Parks’ Campaigns and Communications Manager Laura Williams said: “We were blown away by the range and quality of the applications for our first ever National Parks: New Perspectives bursary scheme. From videos to photo essays and written pieces to audio, we hope that lots of people will appreciate and connect with these stories - told authentically and passionately by the next generation of National Parks storytellers.”
Find out more about the storytellers and their story ideas here.
One of the winners, Charlotte Ditchburn, in Lake District National Park
Lake District National Park car park proposal refused
Following campaign efforts from us and Friends of the Lake District, planning permission was refused for a new car park in open countryside in the Lake District National Park.
Despite originally being recommended for approval, Lake District National Park Authority’s Planning Committee turned down plans for the 150-space car park at Ullock Moss, near the popular Cat Bells walking route.
The implications of this decision go far beyond the immediate area, as allowing the temporary car park here to be made permanent would have set a dangerous precedent for other similar developments both elsewhere in the Lake District and in other National Parks.
Working with Friends of the Lake District and others, we campaigned against plans for the car park, which we objected on the grounds that it did not comply with a range of National Park planning policies and was also in direct conflict with the need to meet net zero targets as it would facilitate car use.
Campaign for National Parks' Policy & Research Manager Ruth Bradshaw said: “It’s great to see that our concerns have been listened to and that members clearly recognise the need to start developing alternative solutions to parking and traffic issues. We really hope this will now lead to an increased emphasis on the kind of sustainable car-free travel options that we have long been promoting for National Parks.”
Welsh Government plans to tackle second homes
One of the issues that has long been a cause for concern in many National Parks is the high numbers of second homes and short-term holiday lets. Not only does this reduce the supply of housing for local people, but in some holiday areas this can lead to so-called ‘ghost villages’ which are almost completely abandoned in winter months.
In Wales, these concerns are compounded by the potential threat to the sustainability of the Welsh language. Now the Welsh Government has launched a consultation on proposals to allow local authorities to require planning permission before allowing an existing permanent residence to be used as a second home or holiday let in areas where the evidence suggests the high numbers of such properties are harming the local community.
Campaign for National Parks' Policy & Research Manager Ruth Bradshaw said: “It’s good to see this idea being taken forward as it’s something we’ve called for in response to previous planning consultations. There's lots to learn for all National Parks from what is being proposed in Wales.”
The deadline for the consultation is 22 February 2022; have your say here.
Please share and donate to our Christmas Appeal 2021
A big thank you to everyone who has shared their wishes for National Parks for the future on social media – we’ve had some great suggestions and there’s plenty of food for thought for future discussions. Find out more by searching the #CNPXmas21 hashtag on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
Thank you also to everyone who has donated to our online appeal. If you haven’t already, please consider donating to our Christmas appeal to help us step up and take forward the fight into 2022. As a small charity, we rely on your donations to campaign to protect and improve National Parks in England and Wales.
We are now also offering Gift Memberships for £35 a year, the recipients of which will receive our bi-annual Viewpoint magazine and a copy of our new National Parks map as an A3 poster. See here for details - order today to ensure delivery in time for Christmas!
Guest blog: National Park transport issues and how to fix them
Alistair Kirkbride from The Foundation for Integrated Transport has penned a thoughtful blog on four transport problems in National Parks and how to fix them.
“National Parks attract millions of visitors each year," he said, "The visitor’s protected landscape experiences are all too often blighted by excessive traffic, residents’ lives are disrupted by not being able to get around, and the engine of tourism is responsible for significant emissions.” He goes onto explore the issues and what could be done about them.
Following on from our introduction to new Trustee Sue Beaumont in last month’s e-news, it’s the turn of returning Trustee Kate Ashbrook.
Many of you will know Kate from her previous work with Campaign for National Parks, as General Secretary of the Open Spaces Society for 37 years, as Trustee (and former Chair) of The Ramblers, Trustee of the Dartmoor Preservation Society and/or patron of the Walkers Are Welcome Towns network.
Kate, who lives in the Chilterns AONB, said: “I have served on the Campaign for National Parks Board for 36 years, six of them as Chair, but took a break, enforced by the articles, in 2019. I am delighted to be back. It will be lovely to be working with like-minded colleagues to lead and support the pressure-group for National Parks. These landscapes are vital to our nations, providing refreshment and relaxation, inspiration and challenge. We have so much to do to enable them to be enjoyed by all, while retaining their wildness and culture, and improving their biodiversity.”
As part of our National Parks: New Perspectives drive, we worked with a young Bristol artist, Sophie Marsh, a young Manchester musician, Sophie Galpin, and Tom Woolley, a map maker from Birmingham, to create a new animation which explores the different ways people enjoy National Parks. The result is this catchy short papercraft film featuring a range of activities in National Parks across England and Wales. Enjoy!
National Parks: New Perspectives animation; read more from animator Sophie here.
A step along the way towards a brighter future for our National Parks
