Landscapes Review latest: Panel events, TV appearances and more
We’ve been busy working with partners to digest and start planning our full response to the Government’s latest Landscapes Review consultation.
Our joint event with the Centre for National Parks and Protected Areas brought together a panel of speakers that included Landscapes Review author Julian Glover, our own Chief Executive Rose O’Neill, Defra Deputy Director Sion McGeever, Natural England Chief Executive Marian Spain and more.
The online event, on 24 February, was attended by hundreds of people and explored plans for a national landscapes partnership. We live tweeted the event, so you can read more about it on our Twitter channel.
Some of you may have seen our Research and Policy Manager Ruth Bradshaw on BBC Countryfile on Sunday 13 February talking about the need for sufficient funding to help deliver some of the aims of the Landscapes Review. You can watch it on catch up here.
Finally, our friends at RSPB are urging people to contact Defra as part of the Landscapes Review consultation to urge them to give nature higher priority in protected landscapes. Find out morehere.
We join forces with National Park Societies for plastic tree guard campaign
We have teamed up with Friends of the Dales, Friends of the South Downs and nine other National Park Societies in calling for urgent action to tackle the problem of plastic tree guard use in tree planting in National Parks.
As well as submitting a joint response to Defra’s call for evidence around problematic single-use plastics, we’ve supported Friends of the Dales in launching the campaign – which urges National Park Authorities to move away from plastic tree guard use by the end of 2022.
Find out more here. Friends of the Dales Chair Bruce McLeod removing plastic tree guards, by Friends of the Dales
Welsh Government consultation on second homes and short-term holiday lets
Welsh Government has been consulting on proposals to tackle the high numbers of second homes and holiday lets, which are a significant issue in many parts of the National Parks in both Wales and England.
We’ve now submitted a joint response with the Alliance for Welsh Designated Landscapes, in which we broadly agreed with the proposals to enable planning permission to be required in areas where there are very high levels of such properties.
However, we’ve also called for a number of other changes including a compulsory licensing scheme for holiday homes and more resources for local planning authorities to enable them to deal with the increased number of planning applications and associated enforcement activities.
The need for increased resources is a particular issue for National Park Authorities, which do not have access to the revenue from the council tax premium for second homes, as this is paid to the local authorities in their area.
We’ve joined around 60 other organisations to demand a legal right to nature as part of the Government’s Levelling Up reforms. Add your voice by signing the petition today.
The Nature for Everyone campaign, led by Wildlife and Countryside Link, is asking the Government to put nature at the heart of the community as part of its levelling up plans.
Our Chief Executive Rose O’Neill penned an impassioned blog explaining why we are backing the campaign. She said: “Our mission at Campaign for National Parks is to inspire everyone to look after and enjoy National Parks. We think, to do this, everyone must have access to nature on their doorstep, as well as the amazing, full technicolour awe and wonder available in a National Park.”
Despite the climate and nature emergency, National Highways is continuing to pursue plans for major roadbuilding right on the edge of the South Downs National Park.
Their preferred option for the A27 Arundel Bypass, the grey route, is a four-lane dual carriageway which will have a devastating effect on water meadows and woodlands just outside the National Park and will lead to increased noise and pollution within the National Park.
That’s why we’ve joined local people and other environmental NGOs in opposing the grey route and recommending the adoption of the lower impact Arundel Alternative instead. We’ve been very grateful to our supporters who’ve added their voice to these calls in previous rounds of consultation.
There’s now one last chance to demonstrate the strength of opposition, as National Highways are currently running the final round of consultation before they apply for development consent.
Find out moreand have your say now. The deadline for consultation responses is 8 March 2022.
Pembrokeshire Coast National Park is 70
Following on from the 70th anniversaries of the first National Parks in Wales and England – Peak District, Lake District, Snowdonia and Dartmoor – last year, the second National Park to be designated in Wales, Pembrokeshire Coast, celebrates its 70th anniversary this month.
Officially designated on 29 February 1952, but celebrating its anniversary on the 28th in this non Leap Year, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority has some celebration walks planned. Find out more here. Pembrokeshire Coast National Park by PCNPA
Joint letter calls for changes to the Policing Bill
The National Parks movement has its roots in protests such as the mass trespass of Kinder Scout. The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill introduces disproportionate sentences for peaceful protest.
Defending these freedoms and liberties is an essential part of ensuring our environment is protected and enhanced, and our international commitments adhered to. Like our most precious habitats, once damaged they are difficult to recover.
That's why we've signed a joint letter with other environmental charities to push for amendments to the bill to unsure these powers are not open to abuse. Read more about this here.
New members sought for three National Park Authority Boards
The National Park Authorities for the Lake District, the Peak District and the Yorkshire Dales are each seeking a Secretary of State member to join their Boards.
As part of our response to the Landscapes Review, we reiterated the importance of improving National Park Authority Boards to ensure they are more representative of wider society, and we’d particularly encourage people from underrepresented groups to apply.
For more info, or to apply, see here. Deadline for applications is midday 7 March 2022.
Introducing...Kwesia and Saira
Our first ever National Parks: New Perspectives bursaries are now underway and we’ll be introducing you to the bursary holders and telling you a bit more about their projects in the monthly e-news between now and the launch of their stories in the summer.
First up is Kwesia, better known as City Girl in Nature. Kwesia lives in London and, until last year, did not know what a National Park was. Now she’s enjoyed several and has a hit list of many more to experience. Kwesia will be taking people from the cities to the South Downs National Park to explore connection with place, the landscape, heritage and nature and will be filming their journeys.
Also, focusing on people in South Downs National Park is Saira Niazi. Saira – who lives in London and also works for Slow Ways – will be capturing portraits of the people who make the South Downs the brilliant place it is. She’ll turn these visual stories into a beautiful tabletop portrait book. If you would like to be featured in the book, or know someone who would, please get in touch.
New guest blog: environmentalist Andy Wilson
Former North York Moors Chief Executive Andy Wilson spoke passionately at the 2021 National Park Societies conference and at our last Council Meeting and AGM about his vision for National Parks. If you didn’t make it to those events, fear not – Andy shares 14 key changes he’d like to see in this thought-provoking blog for us.
And finally...
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First up is Kwesia, better known as City Girl in Nature. Kwesia lives in London and, until last year, did not know what a National Park was. Now she’s enjoyed several and has a hit list of many more to experience. Kwesia will be taking people from the cities to the South Downs National Park to explore connection with place, the landscape, heritage and nature and will be filming their journeys. 
Also, focusing on people in South Downs National Park is Saira Niazi. Saira – who lives in London and also works for Slow Ways – will be capturing portraits of the people who make the South Downs the brilliant place it is. She’ll turn these visual stories into a beautiful tabletop portrait book. If you would like to be featured in the book, or know someone who would, 
