National Parks Week - your countryside on a plate

Monday 28 July – Sunday 3 August

National Media release
Issued: 16 June 2008

Who likes burgers, kebabs, shepherds pie and Sunday roast?” we ask.
“We do!” cry the children.
“Where do they come from?” we ask.
“The shops!” the youngsters reply.

Children learning about local produce in a National Park

Each year National Parks Week celebrates the 14 UK National Parks, Britain’s finest landscapes. In 2008, the Year of Food and Farming, the Week takes local produce as its theme. Children and families are the focus of events taking place around the National Parks during the Week. National Parks want to play their part in helping children to understand where their food comes from, and how good quality food is produced.

Hundreds of fun events and activities are planned for National Parks Week, to be launched on Sunday 27 July with a National Parks Picnic in the North York Moors, Brecon Beacons, Pembrokeshire Coast and The Broads. See the attached list for food themed events throughout the UK National Parks during the Week itself.

Events include everything from food-themed walks to farm visits, chocolate making and a farm photography competition - there’s something for everyone to enjoy. It’s a perfect opportunity for families to get out into the great outdoors, see how farming has shaped our beautiful landscapes – and eat the view!

Looking forward to National Parks Week 2008, Chairman of Snowdonia National Park, Caerwyn Roberts, himself a farmer within the National Park, said:

“Farming maintains National Park landscapes and contributes greatly to the wildlife, cultural value, and local and regional livelihood of communities within National Parks. With 2008 being the year of Food and Farming, there’s no better time for National Parks to help to reconnect people to the landscape that produces their food “.

A survey carried out last year found that one in five children have never visited the countryside. The National Parks hope that many families will take advantage of the special events on offer in the school holidays to visit – maybe for the first time.

- ENDS -

Notes:

• There are 14 National Parks in the UK, covering 7% of England, 20% of Wales and 7.3% of Scotland.  
• National Parks have the highest landscape protection for their outstanding beauty and special qualities.  They are an important part of the nation’s cultural heritage.
• National Parks are there for everyone to enjoy, free of charge, 24/7, 365 days of the year.  
• National Parks Week aims to raise the profile of National Parks and to encourage more people to enjoy them – particularly children and families.
• More than 125 million visitor days are spent in National Parks per year.  These special areas are an important part of the nation’s heritage and are here for everyone to enjoy.
• The UK National Parks are the Brecon Beacons, Dartmoor, Exmoor, Lake District, New Forest, Northumberland, North York Moors, Peak District, Pembrokeshire Coast, Snowdonia, Yorkshire Dales, Loch Lomond & The Trossachs and the Cairngorms. The Broads is a member of the National Parks ‘family’ although not strictly an official National Park.  The South Downs is in the process of designation as a National Park.

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