Peak District NPA statement in response to the publication of the “Landscapes Review"

It is no co-incidence national parks celebrate their 70th year anniversary just a year after the National Health Service. Both were born from a moment of societal change to re-build Britain after the war.

National Parks were born from a movement of people here in the Peak District, campaigning to protect our most treasured landscapes for returning war heroes and campaigning for a right to access the countryside.

PDNPA stand on the shoulders of these Peak District pioneers and there is much to celebrate from the past 70 years of protection and the right to access the countryside. We want to achieve so much more.

Sarah Fowler, Chief Executive of the Peak District National Park Authority says:

“We welcome the ambition in the Glover Review. Crucially, it identifies the tools and resources required for protected landscapes to tackle locally and nationally the critical global issues of climate change and biodiversity loss. It reignites that passionate campaign that created the Peak District as Britain’s original National Park to care for our most treasured landscapes for all to enjoy forever. And it supports our ambition to re-connect a generation to nature.

“Ultimately, it offers solutions for us to tackle global challenges locally so our protected landscapes can be more diverse - in nature and in the people connecting with them - and be working models of a sustainable future.

“We are ready to take on this ambition. We will work with government and our partners to grasp the opportunities the review's recommendations provide.

“Continuing with the same passion and founding principles of 70 years ago, we will continue to be pioneers of positive and active change and work better nationally across the protected landscape network to achieve this vision.”

Saturday 21 September: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/designated-landscapes-national-parks-and-aonbs-2018-review