Government finally releases full response to the Glover Landscapes Review
The Government this month finally shared its full response to the Glover Landscapes Review which was published in 2019. The response, published on Saturday 15 January, includes a range of proposals, including creating a national landscapes partnership, amending the purposes to place a stronger emphasis on nature recovery, and increased funding for Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) – but lacked detail on investment into National Parks, measures to hold National Park Authorities accountable and anything significant on reducing car-use. A public consultation is now underway, closing on 9 April 2022.
Our reaction
We released an initial response on the Saturday calling for new legislation to deliver the proposals, and a longer blog post, penned by our Policy and Research Manager Ruth Bradshaw, when we’d had a chance to read the document in full. We also worked with David Hampson at RSPB on a joint blog for Green Alliance, and spoke with journalists about what this might mean for National Parks.
Glover webinar
Earlier this week, we hosted a webinar for Council members, including National Park Societies, where we heard more detail from Defra and had the chance to ask questions. Take a look at our Twitter channel to see some of the questions and answers.
Rose told the meeting: “This is a critical time for National Parks, and the next 12 weeks is a real opportunity to come together and help shape the future of National Parks. Among other things, we need a new Landscapes Bill, green financing controls and safeguards and radical alternative ideas for sustainable transport and housing – to ensure more access, less impact.”
Panel discussion with Glover
Next month, we are hosting a joint event with The Centre for National Parks and Protected Areas based in the University of Cumbria, where Rose will be joined on a panel by Landscapes Review author Julian Glover and others to discuss some of the proposals, including the national landscapes partnership. The free event takes place at 4 –5.30pm on Thursday 24 February 2022; register for your place here.
Campaign for Parks Chief Executive joins new Landscape Advisory Panel
We are very pleased to announce that Our Chief Executive Dr Rose O’Neil has joined Natural England Landscape Advisory Panel (NELAP), chaired by Sarah Mukherjee MBE – who was also on the Glover Review panel – and Rosamund Blomfield-Smith. The panel brings together expertise from across the sector to support, challenge, and advise on ambitious and innovative ways to shape the future of all English landscapes, for everyone.
Rose said: "It's great to be a part of this new panel. Partnership working is essential to ensuring that our National Parks are protected and enabled to deliver more for people, nature and climate. The Landscape Advisory Panel has an important role to play in ensuring that happens."
With the help of some generous legacy donations, we are growing our team to include two new positions to help us increase our campaigning capacity and power. We are currently recruiting for:
We’re open to conversations around working patterns, including hours and location, and are particularly keen to hear from applicants from backgrounds under-represented in the environment sector. The deadline for applications is 6 February 2022, so please do share this with anyone you know who might be interested.
You can find out more about what it’s like to work for us with this blogfrom Campaigns and Communications Manager Laura Williams.
Meeting with Welsh Minister for Climate Change
We recently met with the new Welsh Minister for Climate Change Julie James to discuss how National Parks in Wales can deliver more for people, nature and climate, and how we can help support development of proposals for a new National Park in the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley.
The Minister agreed the importance of ensuring plans are developed with communities, landowners and visitors and welcomed expert input from Campaign for National Parks, National Parks Societies and the Alliance for Welsh Designated Landscapes. We will be continuing to engage with the Welsh Government on this.
North York Moors Management Plan consultation response
We have just submitted our response to the draft North York Moors Management Plan. There is little that we disagree with; however, there are a number of areas where we believe changes are needed in order to ensure that it is as effective as possible. In line with our views on the need for stronger Management Plans, we would like to see the inclusion of much stronger, more challenging targets and a stronger emphasis on securing change as quickly as possible.
We also believe that there are significant opportunities for expanding the Plan both with regard to the level of ambition proposed, and in terms of the range of issues addressed. For example, there is no reference to supporting sustainable travel options even though improved public transport will be essential for achieving the Plan’s ambitions on nature and climate while supporting more people to visit.
We’re nothing without you – become part of a growing National Parks movement
A big thank you to everyone who donated to our Christmas 2021 appeal. We know it’s a challenging time for many and we really do appreciate your support in helping us, as a small independent charity, speak up for National Parks in England and Wales. We have a unique chance to help shape their future right now and would love you to be part of this growing movement.
For just £3 a month, you’ll be helping fuel our work and will receive our bi-annual members’ magazine Viewpoint and discounts with our corporate partners – including holiday cottages, outdoors retailers and more. Gift memberships are also available and include an A3-size poster of our new National Parks map.
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Campaign for Parks Chief Executive joins new Landscape Advisory Panel 
