New National Parks: New Perspectives film highlights mental health
Can a National Park help mental and physical health? Our latest set of films, launched as part of the New Perspectives bursary awards, suggest they can.
Created by 22-year-old Tony Karoly, the four short films titled Natural Outsiders explore the relationships four very different individuals have with the Brecon Beacons National Park in Wales. The voices of four individuals who live, work and revive themselves in the Brecon Beacons are captured in Tony’s short films. All of the films show just how important the National Park is to health, well-being and identity.
Tony was one of our ten young storytellers to receive a bursary to create their films, thanks to you, our supporters and Friends. Campaign for National Parks' National Parks: New Perspectives scheme aims to amplify the voices of those less heard in National Parks. Specialist training and mentoring was kindly provided by our partner Ocean City Media.
Click here to read more about Tony’s story and to watch the four different films. Each video is also available with Welsh subtitles.
Leading the fight back for National Parks
Over the last month, we have led the fight back in Westminster, standing up for National Parks which were under attack and facing an ‘existential crisis’. We successfully thwarted dangerous plans to install deregulation ‘investment zones’ across 7 National Parks and 29 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
We are now standing up in the face of significant cuts to budget and plans to sell off National Park land. In the face of a cost-of-living crisis, the public needs National Parks more than ever, and it is essential that they stand true to their founding principles of being places the nation can enjoy.
Earlier this month we wrote to the Chancellor, warning that the continued cuts to National Park budgets threaten nature and climate targets and undermine public health, as covered in the media.
With parliamentary business resuming with the new Prime Minister, we’ve been working to secure vital changes for Protected Landscapes through the Levelling-Up and Regeneration Bill. We are delighted that Sir Gary Streeter MP has now tabled important amendments aimed at implementing some of the key recommendations from the 2019 Glover Review that we and 29 NGOs have been calling for. Caroline Lucas MP has also supported the motion (as recently covered in The Guardian).
These proposed changes to legislation put stronger emphasis on nature recovery and inclusion and will unlock investment from public bodies and water companies to deliver more for National Parks. We’re now one step closer to securing the vital legislative changes which will ensure that Protected Landscapes deliver even more for nature, people and climate in future.
You can find out more about the changes to legislation needed by catching up on our recent webinar with the Centre for National Parks and Protected Areas.
The amendments will likely be debated next week – you can find out more and encourage your MP to support the amendments here.
Double you donation on Giving Tuesday
We’re delighted to let you know that we’re launching the Love Our National Parks Christmas appeal on Giving Tuesday, 29 November, with the chance to double your donation. This winter, your help is needed more than ever.
As one of the charities chosen to benefit from The Big Give Christmas Challenge, this means that your donations to the appeal will be doubled when you donate to Campaign for National Parks online via The Big Give only from midday on Tuesday 29 November to midday on Tuesday 6 December. This is at no extra cost to you, thanks to match-funding from some of our most generous supporters.
Your help is needed more than ever: this autumn, we’ve fought back against shocking new proposals in England to weaken hard-won planning protections that safeguard the National Parks. We’ve campaigned against new UK government threats of green lighting major development in ‘Freeports’ on the edge of Dartmoor, the North York Moors and the New Forest National Parks and ‘investment zones’ that risk seven National Parks. With the very lungs of our country under threat, it’s only by applying constant and consistent pressure that we stand a chance against a tide of loss. This is why we need your help now to retain and strengthen the laws and policies that guard the Protected Landscapes of England and Wales.
Would you like a reminder? Please email [email protected] or text or WhatsApp 07513 726 097 to be reminded next Tuesday when The Big Give page opens for donations.
As the independent voice of National Parks we are only funded through donations, memberships and gifts in wills. Thank you for your support.
Young people are an endangered species in National Parks
Megan Hunt of Exmoor Young Voices explains why so many young people are leaving National Parks and what more can be done to support them to live, work and farm in our National Parks. Read her blog here.
Language and landscape
This month, Snowdonia National Park Authority Members voted to use the Welsh names of Eryri (Snowdonia) and Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) in both Welsh and English contexts. This is an important step forward, one discussed at the National Parks Societies conference in Eryri last month.
Give the gift of supporting National Parks
Is there someone close to you who cares deeply about National Parks? This Christmas, why not give them a gift that gives back to the places that they love, from Dartmoor and Brecon Beacons to the North York Moors and Northumberland?
The recipient of our gift membership will be a Friend of National Parks for a year and receive a responsibly printed welcome pack in the post. We can send the pack directly to the recipient or to you, the gift giver.
Gift membership of Campaign for National Parks is just £39 per year for an individual or £45 for a couple or family living in the same address. It includes our beautiful National Parks map as an A3 poster, a wooden pin-badge (two for a joint membership), a year’s subscription of Viewpoint magazine, discounts from our corporate partners and a thank-you card with a short message or left blank for you to write in.
Please note the last day for Christmas orders is Monday 12 December.
We would like to pay tribute to Michael Dower, who sadly died this month. Michael was a visionary of the National Parks movement. We were hugely grateful for his participation in our Oral History project where he reflected on the incredible work over his lifetime and that of his family.
