National Parks - a global context
In the UK National Parks are areas of special quality and national significance in which people live and work. They belong to the worldwide family of protected areas embracing over 100 countries across the globe.
The world’s first National Park was established at Yellowstone, Wyoming, USA on 1 March 1872.
The first National Parks to be designated in Europe were in Sweden on 24 May 1909.
In the 21st century, protected areas worldwide including National Parks, nature parks,and biosphere reserves, play a vital role in safeguarding nature, wildlife and landscapes.
National Parks - in the United Kingdom
The first National Parks in England and Wales were created under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 with the National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000 paving the way for the first National Parks in Scotland. National Parks cover 10 per cent of the United Kingdom’s rural areas with a combined resident population in excess of 270,000.
The first National Park in the United Kingdom was the Peak District, designated in 1950. National Park status is the highest landscape designation, reflecting the importance of these areas for the nation.
The Purposes of National Parks
In England and Wales the statutory purposes of National Parks are:
• to conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the area
• to promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the area’s special qualities by the public. In pursuing these purposes National Park Authorities also have a duty to seek to foster the economic and social well-being of the communities within the National Park. Scottish National Parks statutory aims are:
• to conserve and enhance the natural and cultural heritage of the area
• to promote the sustainable use of the natural resources of the area
• to promote understanding and enjoyment (including enjoyment in the form
of recreation) of the special qualities of the area by the public
• to promote sustainable economic and social development of the area’s communities.
Dartmoor & Hungarian National Park Partnership
Although the landscapes and habitats of Dartmoor and Hortob?gy are different, both National Parks share common purposes - to protect and enhance these unique and beautiful places, and to provide for public understanding and enjoyment. Both also have a long history of human use. Management issues relating to aspects of natural beauty, wildlife, cultural heritage, public enjoyment, education and other interests, are surprisingly similar and provide excellent opportunities for sharing skills and experience through an active partnership. In November 2002, a Partnership Agreement was entered into by the Dartmoor National Park Authority and the Hortob?gy National Park Directorate, supported by the Hungarian Ministry of Environment and Water. Under this Agreement a Work Plan for technical cooperation between the protected areas has been drawn up. This includes the sharing of information and publications, exchange of professional staff, complementary programmes of monitoring and research, and provision of training opportunities. The partners believe that becoming familiar with each other’s work will help staff from both National Parks to better promote the ideas of global landscape and wildlife conservation, and of sustainable development. They believe that shared experiences will generate novel approaches to management and improved working methods.
Brecon Beacons National Park
An impressive series of mountain ranges and valleys, running from the English border to the town of Llandovery, dramatically separates rural mid-Wales from the industrial valleys of the south. This special landscape includes the eastern Black Mountains, the high Beacons in the central area,and the heather-covered wilderness of the Black Mountain at the western end. Limestone ramparts along the southern edge provide varied cave systems and spectacular waterfalls. The area’s rich geology has led to part of the National Park being designated a UNESCO Geopark. Farming has shaped the landscape over the centuries and, today, Welsh cultural traditions are still strong. People have been living in the Brecon Beacons for more than 5,000 years and there is a powerful sense of history evident in the ancient standing stones,cairns and buildings found across the National Park. There are two long distance trails on offer in the National Park – The Beacons Way and part of the Offa's Dyke National Trail.
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Broads
The Norfolk and Suffolk Broads is a unique mosaic of rivers and shallow lakes, marshes, fens and woodland, and is home to some of the rarest plants and creatures in the UK. It is Britain's largest protected wetland, and a member of the National Parks family. The Broads Authority was set up in 1989 to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the Broads, promote the enjoyment of the Broadsand protect the interests of navigation. It must also have regard to the needs of agriculture and forestry, and the economic and social interests of those who live or work in the Broads.
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Cairngorms National Park
Cairngorms National Park is a living, working landscape with wild land at its heart. The mountains that have shaped the people, culture, natural heritage, scenery and character of the area dominate the National Park and give it its name. A place to look after The National Park has unique and incredibly important wildlife. The sub-arctic plateau, Caledonian pine forest, moorland, farmland, rivers and lochs are of national and international importance. Home to a quarter of Britain’s threatened species, each of these habitats is outstanding in its own right. All in one place they make the Cairngorms a very special place indeed. A place to enjoy 16,000 people live here, where others have for thousands of years before them. History is written all over the landscape in castles, smuggling routes, sporting estates and distilleries. Whether mountaineering or taking tea on the lawn at Balmoral, the Cairngorms attracts people from all over the country as a place where there really is something for everyone to enjoy. Now, more than ever before, tourism and recreation shape the landscape and the people of the Cairngorms.
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Dartmoor National Park
At 368 square miles (954 square kilometres), Dartmoor is the largest open space in southern England. It has wild open moorland, granite tors and wooded river valleys. At its edge is a landscape of small fields enclosed by stone walls and hedge banks. Dartmoor has been a stock grazing area for at least 4,000 years and it is, in the main, this kind of farming that has made the Dartmoor landscape worthy of National Park status. The open spaces and sheltered valleys give pleasure to millions of people every year, and for the Dartmoor farmers it is their place of work. By virtue of its outstanding natural beauty Dartmoor was one of the first National Parks to be designated in Britain, in 1951. Dartmoor’s blanket bog, upland oakwood, caves and mines are among habitats of international importance. Dartmoor’s landscape is also among the richest in western Europe in terms of its archaeological remains. National Parks are places where people live and work and Dartmoor is home to some 33,000 people.
Exmoor National Park
Exmoor is rich in hidden places where you can still get away from it all if you wish, or there’s plenty going on if you enjoy some activity. For those that visit or live in the area, Exmoor is a special place with stunning landscapes comprising a wild and tranquil moorland heart and beautiful coastline of plunging cliffs and sheltered bays. A glimpse of the native Exmoor ponies living free on the open moor, or of wild red deer, are just some of the wildlife delights that await you. Exmoor was designated a National Park, in 1954. The National Park Authority helps to look after Exmoor’s environment for all to enjoy, in partnership with a thriving community.
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Lake District National Park
The Lake District National Park is the largest in England. Enjoy high fells, lush valleys, deep lakes, vibrant villages and quiet hamlets. For the tang of salt air, savour the sandy beaches and rocky tidepools of the west coast. From the tranquil reflections of Loweswater to the colourful bustle of Bowness, the Lake District gives you space to stretch body and mind. Escape with a walk on the wild side to Scafell Pike, England’s highest mountain, or take things easy with a steamer trip on Windermere, the country’s largest lake. The breathtaking landscape has inspired writers and artists from William Wordsworth to Beatrix Potter. In 1951 this special area was designated a National Park to protect it for future generations. The National Park Authority is still working hard to balance the needs of the environment with everyone who visits, lives and works in this glorious part of the world.
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Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park
The National Park encompasses around 720 sq miles (1,865 sq km) of some of the finest scenery in Scotland. It is an area of contrasts from rolling lowland landscapes in the south to high mountains in the north, and has many lochs and rivers, forests and woodlands. It is also a living, working landscape which has been influenced by human activity and is visited and enjoyed by many for its recreational value. The Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park became fully operational on 19 July 2002 and was officially opened by HRH Princess Anne on 24 July 2002.
Did you know?
More than 70% of Scotland's population live less than an hour's travel time from Loch Lomond and The Trossachs.
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New Forest National Park
On 1 March 2005 the New Forest became a National Park, the first in England for many years and the first in the South East. The New Forest is situated in the deep south of England, between the urban areas of Southampton and Bournemouth and bounded by the Solent. One of the most striking features of the Forest is the open expanse of semi-natural vegetation. Here an ancient lowland landscape of heathland, bogs, woodlands and streams is still maintained through the grazing of thousands of New Forest ponies and cattle. This ancient pastoral economy has resulted in the development of some of the richest and most extensive wildlife habitats in Europe.
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North York Moors National Park
Miles of stunning heather, towering sea cliffs, secluded beaches and grassy dales give the North York Moors a character all of its own. The vast open spaces and perfect tranquility can simply make you stand and stare. You can wander through woods, saunter through picturesque villages of honey sandstone, throw pebbles in a stream or build sandcastles on the beach. All around are the signs of past generations, historic abbeys, embattled castles, churches, crosses, ancient routes. The local culture and traditions here are strong. You can listen, you can watch and you are welcome to join in.
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Northumberland National Park
Escape to Northumberland National Park, the land of the far horizons. Here is a landscape of limitless beauty and a northern welcome that is warm and genuine. From the World Heritage Site of Hadrian’s Wall in the south to the Cheviot Hills on the border with Scotland, there is so much to do. Walk, cycle, climb, explore or just relax and breathe deep with only nature and the call of the curlew for company. Northumberland National Park is a historic landscape where traces of the past still tell the tale in rock carvings and hillforts, cottages and kilns, stone walls and fine houses. There are the rugged borderlands with their turbulent Reiver past which are peppered with castles and bastles (fortified farms), and where the Northumberland traditions are cherished in music, song and story. Through wild valleys in the heart of the National Park meander the enchanting rivers of the North Tyne, Rede, Coquet and Breamish and their many sparkling tributary burns, where otters play, salmon leap and fisherman dream.
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Peak District National Park
The Peak District National Park is a very special place. People come to find solitude in a landscape of stark contrasts, from dramatic, craggy uplands to meandering river valleys with crystal-clear waters. The environment supports rare and varied wildlife. Alongside the nature there is a wealth of culture with pretty traditional villages and historic houses. In addition, 38,000 people are proud to call the Peak District home – they live here, work here, make their mark on the landscape with their farms and buildings, and many help care for the countryside where they live. This is an area of international importance, and the Peak District National Park Authority works with residents and many organisations to conserve its natural beauty and heritage.
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Pembrokeshire Coast National Park
This is Britain's only truly coastal National Park. It's a spectacular landscape of rugged cliffs, sandy beaches, wooded estuaries and wild inland hills, and a place of sanctuary for wildlife. People belong here, too. They have shaped the landscape over the centuries, leaving their mark in tombs and castles, crosses and cottages, quarries and quays. Today this is a living, working landscape where people and nature co-exist. The National Park Authority helps to looks after it, helps the public to enjoy and understand it, and works with local communities towards a sustainable future.
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Snowdonia National Park
Snowdonia is considered the backbone of Wales. Influenced by the geological developments of the Ice Age, it has numerous U-shaped valleys, crushed scree on cliff-faces, and mountain lakes, all shaped by glaciers. Physical remains can still be seen from the Stone, Bronze and Iron Ages to Roman and medieval times, and they all contribute to the valuable archaeological heritage of the National Park. The Park covers an area of 2,171 square kilometres from the mountains down to the sea and is home to around 26,000 people who live and work within and around its boundaries. Most of its residents speak Welsh as their mother tongue, and the area is steeped in history, tradition and culture. Today, tourism and agriculture are the main industries that contribute to the economy of the National Park. Around 6 million people visit the National Park each year – to walk climb, cycle and to appreciate its stunning scenery and special qualities.
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Yorkshire Dales National Park
In 1954 the Yorkshire Dales was designated a National Park because of its amazing wildlife, fascinating habitats, beautiful scenery and local history. Over 20,000 people live and work here, and every year over 8 million visitors come to see the wonderful landscape and wildlife, and to experience traditional village life. The 1,762 square kilometres of the National Park have been described in many different ways; as wild, expansive, tranquil and at times awesome and bleak. It is one of the finest upland areas of Britain, dotted with lovely historic towns and villages and brimming with all sorts of opportunities for outdoor recreation and other activities. The National Park is administered by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority whose job is to help anyone who visits, works or lives in the area to protect and maintain it, and to help people understand and enjoy the landscape, wildlife and local history of the Yorkshire Dales.
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