Funding boost for National Parks in Wales, new legislation impacting National Parks in England and more...

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** Park Protector Awards 2022 - nominate your National Park heroes
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We’ve received our first nominations for our Park Protector Awards 2022 (thank you!) and there’s still time to nominate your National Park hero ([link removed]) before the deadline on 19 June.

We want to recognise and reward those people, teams and projects who have helped protect and improve National Parks for People, Nature and Climate over the past year or so and we need your help to find them. From conservation volunteers to walking groups, responsible land-owners and campaigners, park protectors are key to caring for National Parks.

The winners of the main award (sponsored by WWF UK) and New Perspectives award (sponsored by Natural England) will receive £1,000, and the Volunteer of the year will get a £500 Original Cottages voucher and one-year subscription to BBC Countryfile Magazine. Winners will receive their prizes at a ceremony in the Houses of Parliament in July.

Find out more and make a nomination today via our website ([link removed]) .


** National Parks: New Perspectives - the full set
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Thank you to everyone who has donated to help fund our National Parks: New Perspectives bursaries, we’re so excited to be supporting young storytellers to share stories from 10 National Parks but want to cover the remaining three too.

We want to raise £3,000 via the Aviva Community Fund ([link removed]) crowdfunder to enable us to launch bursaries for The Broads, Pembrokeshire Coast and New Forest National Parks – areas which weren’t covered by the first round of bursary holders.

Donate £15 and you'll receive a printed copy of our new National Parks map, while £35 secures you an annual membership where you'll receive our bi-annual Viewpoint magazine, partner discounts and more. Find out more and pledge your support here ([link removed]) .

One of the bursary holders, Ruth Garrett, in Yorkshire Dales National Park


** Queen's Speech lacked commitment to protect and improve National Parks
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Legislative change is essential if National Parks are to deliver their full potential for nature, people and climate. So, it was deeply disappointing that there was no mention of National Parks or Protected Landscapes in the Queen’s Speech on 10 May.

The Glover Landscapes Review published in 2019 set out a bold new vision for Protected Landscapes and proposed a number of important changes such as new statutory purposes, stronger duties on other bodies, and more effective Management Plans. These are all proposals which we support and which the Government has committed to taking forward. But until the necessary legislation is introduced, we still don’t know when these changes will be implemented.

Legislation is also needed to deliver other important changes such as a complete ban on burning on peatlands and controls on second homes, so we’ll be continuing to campaign for a dedicated Landscapes Bill. But we are also looking for other potential opportunities to secure the most urgent changes through amendments to legislation the Government has already committed to - including via the Levelling Up Bill.

You can read about the full range of changes we’re calling for and why this legislation is so urgent here ([link removed]) .

Join us now ([link removed]) to add your voice. The more members we have, the more impact we’ll have.


** Funding boost for National Parks in Wales
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The Welsh Government has announced £26 million of funding ([link removed]) to limit the carbon footprint of tourism in Wales, boost biodiversity and improve access to the countryside so all can enjoy its beauty. The funding, unveiled by Climate Minister Julie James last week, should benefit National Parks in Wales and covers the following:
* Making improvements to transport and tourism facilities, particularly around visitor hotspots
* Improving footpath networks with a particular focus on disability access
* Funding projects that will improve Wales’ National Parks so they can better store carbon and provide better protection for wildlife

It comes just months after our Chief Executive Rose O'Neill and Policy and Research Manager Ruth Bradshaw met with the Climate Minister to outline some of the challenges National Parks are facing and talk more about our National Parks and the Climate Emergency report ([link removed]) , released last summer.

Brecon Beacons National Park by Tanith Harwood


** Our response to Northumberland National Park Management Plan
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Earlier this month we submitted our views on the draft Management Plan for Northumberland. There’s lots that we support in the draft plan, particularly the emphasis on supporting nature’s recovery, ensuring the Park is welcoming for all and encouraging sustainable tourism. But we want to see a number of changes including:
* A much stronger emphasis on securing change as quickly as possible, with strong targets for activities such as peatland restoration.
* A greater sense of urgency in areas with clear deadlines for delivering activities such as net zero holiday experiences.
* More focus on improving the options for visiting the Park without a car, both to support sustainable tourism and to ensure the Park is truly welcoming for all.

We worked with partners, including our new young ambassador Jessica Davison, to help inform our response, which you can read here ([link removed]) . The legislative changes we’re calling for (as described above) include measures which will ensure all National Park Management Plans are stronger, and more effective in future.


** New members appointed to Snowdonia National Park Authority
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The Minister for Climate Change, Julie James, has appointed two new members to the Snowdonia National Park Authority.

Naomi Luhde-Thompson and Delyth Lloyd have been appointed to the Authority for four years. In their roles, they will help guide the work of the National Park, supporting its leadership, and contributing to the development of plans and priorities for the future.

Ms James, said: “Both Naomi and Delyth bring a vast experience with them, and I am looking forward to working with them. Our National Park Authorities now play a more important role than ever in addressing issues of national and international importance such as mitigating climate change, decarbonisation, halting biodiversity loss and promoting more sustainable tourism. It is vital that they are well managed organisations, and that we appoint members with a range of skills and expertise to help them realise those ambitions.”

Snowdonia National Park by Snowdonia National Park Authority


** Introducing...Jessica and Nick
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Campaign for National Parks has recently doubled in size thanks to the new additions of Anna Bedford (Programmes Manager), Jessica Glover (Development Manager) and Nick Hall (Senior Campaigns Officer). We shared an introduction to Anna, a former Trustee, in our last newsletter and we can now introduce Jessica and Nick.

Jessica is leading our fundraising efforts and was lured into the world of fundraising ten years ago when she was involved in a capital appeal project to build a new library. She now has a varied fundraising experience from youth, education and arts sectors. Committed to opening up the profession to others, she is a member of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising’s East Anglia committee and lives near The Broads with her husband. Please do email her at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) if you’d like to talk more about supporting Campaign for National Parks

Nick will work with the team to help deliver impactful campaigns and influence Government through engagement with politicians, civil servants and stakeholders across England and Wales. He brings a wealth of experience, having previously worked for nearly a decade at the Campaign for Science and Engineering; before that, he worked in a variety of Parliamentary offices across Westminster. He currently lives in London but uses every opportunity to escape the capital and enjoy the UK's National Parks. You can reach him at [email protected]


** P.S. Support National Parks while you shop
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If you shop online, please consider supporting Campaign for National Parks via easyfundraising ([link removed]) , where you can raise free donations with your everyday online shopping. It's quick and easy to sign up and once you've raised your first £5, easyfundraising will double it!
Sign up now ([link removed])
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