National Parks to be enjoyed by all - press release
3 March 2008
England’s National Park Authorities today (Monday 3rd March 2008) welcomed the launch by Defra Minister Jonathan Shaw MP of the Government’s Diversity Action Plan [1]. This aims to encourage a wider range of people to benefit from the natural environment.
Paul Hamblin, the Director of the English National Park Authorities Association (ENPAA) [2] said:
‘We need only look to the forefathers who set up National Parks to see that in designating these special places for the nation, they are for everyone. National Park Authorities are working hard with local communities to deliver that ambition."
In 1945, John Dower in what became a seminal report for the establishment of National Parks in England and Wales, said:
"National Parks are for people of every class and kind, from every part of the country. They are not for any privileged or otherwise restricted section of the population but for all those who care to refresh their minds and spirits and to exercise their bodies in a peaceful setting of natural beauty."
The Action Plan contains a number of proposals for Natural England, English National Park Authorities, the Forestry Commission and others to address.
Paul Hamblin concluded:
"National Parks are just that – for the nation and everyone who lives in it. We welcome the Action Plan and the increased focus it will provide to ensuring the benefits of our beautiful areas of countryside can be enjoyed by all."
Note to Editors:
1.England has nine National Parks, which cover 8% of England by land area. Each National Park has a National Park Authority (NPA) who are independent bodies funded by central Government. They have two statutory purposes. These are to conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of their areas; and promote opportunities for the public understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of their areas.
In addition, the Broads Authority has an additional statutory purpose to protect the interests of navigation. In furthering these purposes, the NPAs are to seek to foster the social and economic well-being of their local communities. More information about National Parks across the UK is available at www.nationalparks.gov.uk
2.ENPAA (the English National Park Authorities Association) is the body that represents the National Park Authorities in England. It was established in April 2006 and provides a collective voice for the nine National Park Authorities. More details at: www.enpaa.org.uk
Further information and interview:
ENPAA
Paul Hamblin
Director, ENPAA
(work) 020 7655 4812
(mobile) 0796 8760854
National Park Authorities are encouraging hard to reach groups to access and enjoy the National Parks
National Park Authorities (NPAs) are involved with a range of projects to assist hard to reach and disadvantaged groups to be able to access and enjoy the National Parks. This work seeks to overcome the physical, emotional and other barriers preventing such groups from being able to visit the National Parks. More detailed information is available from each NPA. Below just provides a selection of the actions already underway.
Peak District – supporting community champions and children at risk
The Peak District National Park Authority has worked through the Mosaic Partnership to appoint 20 community champions for the Peak District from BME groups in surrounding urban areas who then participated in feedback forums during the year. The Authority has delivered a pilot project of the John Muir Trust Award with 5 primary schools in the National Park and 3 special needs groups from Glossop, Matlock and Sheffield. The Youth Ranger Project plans to reach 200 young people on day programmes and 50 young people through the accredited Ranger programme (2007/08). The focus here is on disadvantaged young people and young people at risk in Derbyshire.
Yorkshire Dales – Encouraging new audiences for the National Park
As part of its continuing commitment to making its services more relevant to new audiences, the Yorkshire Dales NPA is making information about the National Park more accessible to a diverse range of groups and individuals, focusing on the urban areas that surround it. The Authority aims to double the number of visitors from black and minority ethnic (BME) communities by 2011. The Authority’s outreach programme of ‘Dales Experience’ visits works with around 250 participants annually, mainly from urban BME backgrounds. Around 620 participants – almost all from urban BME groups were involved in fifteen cricket match exchange visits in the ‘Beyond the Boundary’ project. Through its work with the Mosaic Partnership, the NPA is developing opportunities for people from under-represented groups to become more involved in the work of the National Park Authority as members, staff or volunteers. Access is being developed for users of all abilities, increasing opportunities for those with limited mobility and for those with sensory disabilities.
North York Moors– helping urban communities make connections
The Heritage Connections Project aims to empower neighbouring urban communities to access, participate, learn about and celebrate the natural and cultural heritage of the National Park. It works with young people, people from deprived areas, those with special health needs and disabilities and elderly people. To date around 5,000 people from these target groups have been involved. The National Park Authority is keen to increase health related volunteering. It works closely with various mental and physical health groups/ charities and has also set up a programme of free health walks. In 2006/7 over 1,600 days were worked by special needs and disabled Volunteers – a number which grows each year. The NPA is also working towards making more of the National Park accessible to as many people as possible. Its network of over 2000km of rights of way is becoming increasingly accessible and barrier free, large parts of the network are now clear of stiles and 36km of paths are already fully accessible to wheelchair standard.
New Forest – promoting easy access and reaching new audiences in new ways
The New Forest National Park Authority’s recently approved Education and Interpretation Strategy includes a programme of outreach for groups of people who are under-represented within the National Park or are hard to reach. The National Park Authority is preparing an ‘easy access’ guide to enable local people and visitors so far excluded from accessing certain parts of the Forest by lack of relevant information to identify quickly those parts that they can use. Information will be given on the nature of the access, degrees of difficulty and disabilities which are catered for. This will help extend the understanding and enjoyment of the National Park particularly by disabled groups.
