Independent review calls for radical plan for England’s National Parks
Major review calls for biggest shakeup of the running of England’s National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty since they were founded 70 years ago.
Key recommendations include:
- a new National Landscapes Service to act as a unified body for England’s 44 national landscapes, including 10 National Parks and 34 AONBs
- creating a 1,000 strong ranger service to be the “friendly face” of our national parks and help engage schools and communities
- giving every school pupil the opportunity to spend a night “under the stars” in these special landscapes to help more children to connect with nature
- new protections, responsibilities, titles and funding for AONBs to help them be greener, more beautiful and more welcoming to the public
- a transformed approach to recover and enhance nature, working with farmers and conservation groups to reverse years of decline and bring landscapes alive
- backing for a new National Park in the Chilterns and a new National Forest, taking in areas such as Sherwood Forest, as part of a drive to increase woodland spaces to fight climate change.
Read our Landscapes review: National Parks and AONBs Inquiry Response for more information.