News from Around the Parks
Children enjoy a day of curlew related activities in Snowdonia National Park. Photo credit: Snowdonia Society
Spring 2019
News from Around the Parks is compiled and edited by the Campaign for National Parks. For any enquiries, please contact [email protected]
Brecon Beacons National Park
BRECON BEACONS PARK SOCIETY The rich industrial heritage of the Brecon Beacons The scenery of the Beacons is marked by long term geological and hydrological movements but in parts that landscape has also been overwritten by humans leaving reminders of an industrial past. These might be lime kilns, quarries or canals. The Brecon Beacons Park Society feels lucky to benefit from the learning of Chris Barber. He is the author of many guides to the Park. He recently reminded the committee of the importance of tramroads.
The society leads walks across many parts of the Park. They run to the canals and also have their place in wider railway history. Interestingly Chris told the society that the Brecknock & Abergavenny Canal company began operations by building not its canal, but a tramroad from Gelli-felin collieries in the Clydach Gorge belonging to Edward Kendall of Beaufort down to Gilwern, where the canal wharf was to be built. The Society will be engaging more in this area of work and concern in the future.
20 years of walks In 1999, as the Brecon Beacons Park Society walks programme began, walks were only at weekends. Shortly afterwards a Friday afternoon walk was added for those travelling to the area for the weekend, this quickly grew into a full Friday walk each week. Most walks were energetic or strenuous and in the Brecon Beacons.
Occasional “Wednesday Wander” walks, which were easier and shorter (less than 10 miles) and aimed at newcomers and the not-so-fit, were introduced in 2009. These became popular as a mid-week outing to keep up fitness for the weekends. These are now every week all year and the society’s most popular walks. Sometimes they also explore areas outside but near the Beacons. For the last three years a “Wednesday Wander” holiday (Tuesday to Thursday) has allowed exploration of sister Parks in Wales.
There are nearly fifty volunteer leaders filling a programme which includes four varied walks in most weeks. In a year the society’s average group of 16 walkers would cover about ten miles with walks up to 12 miles about every other week.
#morethanjustwalks The hashtag #morethanjustwalks is one we use on the society’s twitter account (@walkthebeacons) to promote talks and events or when tweeting or retweeting a response to organisations like our Parks Authority, Welsh Assembly or Campaign for National Parks. Obviously for some members the walks are the main feature of the society but it is important for them and others to know we are #morethanjustwalks.
The Broads National Park
BROADS SOCIETY Campaign to tackle littering Waste disposal and litter continue to be major problems throughout the Broads. Since 2014, when national legislation changed, Local Authorities who had been providing waste collection significantly reduced the services they provided. From that time the burden of trying to provide the much needed facilities has fallen on Parish Councils and local businesses. The provision is patchy and fly tipping and piles of uncollected waste are not uncommon.
The Society is developing ideas to work with the Broads Authority and local businesses to try to overcome the problems and consider new and innovative ways of dealing with waste collection and disposal.
News from Around the Parks / Spring 2019 / Page 1
Broads Trust celebrates 10 years The Broads Trust is ten years old this year and Love the Broads, a visitor giving scheme, is now five years old. Over the five years the fund has distributed over £40,000 towards 20 projects enhancing wildlife, providing visitor facilities and improving access. From small beginnings the scheme has grown and the society has a vision to develop plans to lead Love the Broads through the next five years. They plan to create more significant projects and target the larger and regional businesses to support our work. Recent work, in collaboration with the Authority, has seen the introduction of a Love the Broads branded beer by a local brewery.
THE BROADS AUTHORITY Carbon monoxide alarms become mandatory on Broads vessels From 1 April at least one carbon monoxide (CO) alarm became a requirement on nearly all private and non-private boats in scope of the Boat Safety Scheme (BSS) Requirements. BSS Certifications will not be issued to boats without alarms. The new BSS Requirements apply to boats with accommodation spaces i.e. areas within a boat surrounded by permanent boat structure and where carbon monoxide gas may accumulate.
Although the need for CO alarms is being introduced to help protect boat owners from sources of the toxic gas from neighbouring boats, the alarms are also expected to prevent death or injury to crew members from their own boat engines or appliances. The BSS has just published a new handout as an essential guide to all the new requirements and background information. It covers what is required and how the checks will be carried out by BSS Examiners and how the alarms will help keep crew members safe.
Woven Waters The Broads Authority has been leading the way with a series of projects to engage the public with the Broads National Park via its Heritage Lottery funded scheme known as Water, Mills and Marshes. Its latest initiative has been named ‘Woven Waters’ and will see six local artists creating artistic responses to locations in the Broads which are important to them. Each artist will create a series of art works for the Woven Waters exhibition at Norwich Cathedral’s hostry by the end of the year.
The selected artists are: Hazel Burgess, Kate Walker, Keziah Philipps, Lizzie Kimbley, Nicola Hockley, and Niki Medlik. Their disciplines range from textile to animation, audio to oil paints. As they journey through their places of inspiration and spend time in the landscape creating their artistic responses, each one will keep a diary. By the time of the exhibition each artist will have the tale of their art work and chosen location displayed in a beautiful journal for members of the public to read and be inspired by.
Overseeing the exhibition and weaving together the stories of the individual artists is local curator, Caroline Fisher. Caroline has developed a particular interest in commissioning and exhibiting contemporary art in historic places and in exploring multidisciplinary subject matter. She will be liaising with the artists and embarking upon a creative challenge of her own, curating an exhibition using their diverse mediums to inspire the public to fall in love with the Broads National Park as a creative landscape.
Most importantly of all, the journeys which the artists take will be mapped for members of the public to find and walk for themselves in the hope that they too can find inspiration and creativity in the very different landscapes of the Broads National Park.
Still Waters The Broads Authority has celebrated its 30th birthday with an anniversary photography exhibition at the Forum in Norwich. The exhibition showcased the extraordinary work of the photographers who have promoted the Broads National Park since the Authority’s conception. It’s been an opportunity to showcase the sheer beauty and scale of the landscape protected by the Broads Authority as it was in the past and is in the present.
The exhibition takes its title from the book produced by past Broads Authority photographer, Richard Denyer. In 1989 he published his observations of the Broads alongside his photography, writing of the National Park:
“Other parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty often contain a hill or a mountain and can be spotted and recognised from a distance. It is the nature of this region that the ‘best’ rivers, marshes and lakes, are secretive and hidden from the News from Around the Parks / Spring 2019 / Page 2 casual passer-by. The exhilaration of climbing a peak is replaced here by the discovery of a remote patch of silvery water on an autumnal evening; a marsh full of delicate flora; a wherry in full sail gliding noiselessly past.”
Hickling Boathouses by Richard Denyer. Photo credit: Richard Denyer
The work of Richard Denyer was displayed alongside the work of ten other photographers including current in-house graphic designer, Tom Barrett. The exhibition has been curated by Broads Authority Design and Information Supervisor, Karen Sayer. In total the exhibition has made approximately £1,800 for local charity Love the Broads.
Dartmoor National Park
DARTMOOR NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY Dartmoor Headwaters Natural Flood Management Project This is a relatively new project, a partnership between Dartmoor National Park Authority and the Environment Agency, looking at the effectiveness of using natural river processes, land management techniques and soft engineering approaches to slow down water pathways to reduce the risk of downstream flooding in periods of intense, high rainfall. Wider benefits of the measures implemented will include improved soil health and water quality and opportunities to enhance the biodiversity of the upper moor.
This pilot project is running until March 2021 and is focusing solely on the Rivers Mardle, Dean Burn, Peter Tavy and Walkhampton catchments and the Hanger Down area of the river Erme catchment. These five sub-catchments have been chosen as they are all small in size (all less than 13km²), have a mixture of open access and agricultural land, are steep and News from Around the Parks / Spring 2019 / Page 3 have rapid onset of flooding. They all contain small rural communities where a ‘traditional’ engineered scheme will not be viable due to high costs and there is potential to influence land management linked to the reduction of flood risk. Within the five catchments chosen there are 84 properties at risk of flooding from main river with an additional number at risk of flooding from surface run-off.
New Postbridge display Over the winter months Dartmoor National Park Authority has been working with Far Post Design on phase one of a new interpretive experience at the National Park Visitor Centre, Postbridge.
The vision for Postbridge Visitor Centre and complimentary external interpretation is to create a linking story incorporating the Bronze Age with the landscape in the Postbridge area. The intention is to reveal and make more accessible the story behind the archaeological finds on Whitehorse Hill and encourage visitors to engage with Dartmoor’s prehistory in the surrounding landscape.
Part of this will be achieved through the multi-layering of interpretation such as display of artefacts, graphic interpretation, hands-on interactivity, use of models and audio visual content.
External interpretation will combine panels with other elements such as a new History Hunter’s trail which will link the interior and external environments. It is hoped that the outcome will inspire understanding and exploration of the rich archaeological heritage of the Dartmoor landscape. Funding for the work has been through the Heritage Lottery funded Moor than meets the eye landscape partnership scheme.
News from Around the Parks / Spring 2019 / Page 4
Dartmoor’s golden centres Dartmoor National Park’s Visitor Centres received another great accolade this year when they were awarded Gold in the Visitor Information Service of the Year 2018/19 category of the South West Tourism Excellence Awards.
The South West Tourism Excellence Awards are the biggest annual regional gathering of South West tourism businesses, with 107 different awards presented following a rigorous judging process in which a record 651 entries were considered. All entrants in the South West underwent a thorough short-listing process with 472 being visited by a team of 51 mystery shoppers.
Dartmoor has millions of visitors a year, generating over £120 million for the local economy. This is the fourth Gold award received by the National Park Visitor Centres in recent years. The Centres were awarded Gold on three occasions in the Devon Tourism Awards and now are honoured to be presented with their first regional Gold.
Exmoor National Park
EXMOOR NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY New project to rid Exmoor of invasive species A major scheme to clear Exmoor’s waterways of harmful invasive species has been launched following a grant of £185,000 through a Water Environment Grant (WEG), which is funded through the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and Defra.
The new Exmoor Non-Native Invasives Species (ENNIS) project - a partnership between Exmoor National Park Authority, Environment Agency, National Trust, Natural England and Nicky Green Associates - will allow work to control invasives in the National Park to be radically scaled up and extended to new species, through the procurement of a dedicated project officer for two years along with new equipment and volunteer training.
Sarah Bryan, Chief Executive of Exmoor National Park Authority, said: “There’s no denying that our wildlife is under huge pressure, with climate change and invasive species now adding to the challenges faced by many species. This new initiative forms part of an ambitious programme of work with landowners, farmers and more than 80 partner organisations to try and halt wildlife decline, and ensure the richness and diversity of Exmoor’s habitats and species is passed on to future generations.”
Recreating lost gardens A project to recreate a 200-year-old picturesque garden in the former royal forest of Exmoor, near Simonsbath is underway following major funding from the Western Somerset LEADER programme, Exmoor National Park Authority and its donation scheme CareMoor for Exmoor.
The garden was once the vision of wealthy businessman John Knight. He set about building a grand mansion amidst an elaborate ‘Picturesque Landscape’ – a concept central to the Romantic Movement focused on harnessing natural beauty to enhance the sense of drama in the landscape.
Now, in the year of the 70th anniversary of the Parliamentary Act that gave rise to the UK’s National Parks, a team of volunteers working alongside the Simonsbath Programme Steering Group and Exmoor National Park Authority, hope to bring back to life the gardens through work to reopen one of the original picturesque walks and restore historic buildings that formed part of the original garden.
New immersive tourism experiences launched A suite of new experiences aimed at inspiring more international tourists to explore the extraordinary landscapes and culture of Exmoor National Park were unveiled at Dunster Castle in February. They form part of the English National Park Experience Collection – a selection of over 70 immersive visitor experiences across nine National Parks in England funded by VisitEngland’s Discover England Fund.
News from Around the Parks / Spring 2019 / Page 5
Exmoor experiences include sea-front dining, a wildlife safari, ranger experiences and an exploration of medieval Dunster.
Lake District National Park
FRIENDS OF THE LAKE DISTRICT Cumbrian clean up success An army of over 1000 willing volunteers joined in with Friends of the Lake District’s ‘Great Cumbrian Litter Pick 2019’ on 26 and 27 April collecting 270 bags of rubbish at 46 separate litter picks to help clean up the county.
More than 20 primary schools took part as well as community groups, scouts and businesses right across Cumbria, from Egremont to Sedbergh and Broughton to Milnthorpe. Some of the unusual and interesting finds included a toilet seat, wheel trims, a Super Mario happy meal toy, a tiny pink shoe and a trampoline ladder!
One litter picking team went out on paddle boards to pick litter from lake Windermere, and another team went ‘plogging’ – jogging while litter picking.
Ruth Kirk, Landscape Engagement Officer for Friends of the Lake District and organiser of the annual event said: “One of the highlights of this year’s Great Cumbrian Litter Pick has been the enthusiastic engagement of so many children and young people. We can feel really proud and optimistic that our Cumbrian youngsters will become the landscape custodians and influencers of the future! It puts a smile on your face and hope in your heart.”
Paul Rose picking litter at Windermere. Photo credit: Friends of the Lake District
We can still make a difference - Arctic explorer Paul Rose’s message about climate change Guest speaker at Friends of the Lake District’s Kirby Lecture at Kendal Town Hall on Friday 26 April, was Paul Rose - Arctic explorer, Patron of the Cumbrian conservation charity and Ambassador of the Great Cumbrian Litter Pick.
Fresh from a litter pick earlier that day, Paul questioned what makes us care so much about the Lake District landscape to go out on a wet and windy day to collect rubbish! He pondered what motivates us to care about the planet.
Tales of polar bear near-misses and evocative images from his many expeditions kept the audience captivated. His recent work as expedition leader with National Geographic on the Pristine Seas Project showed how climate change has affected the polar ice caps and plastic pollution has affected our oceans. Paul has witnessed first-hand the devastation our throw- away society has on the world’s oceans.
Despite this, he explained how, through his work with world-class scientific research and technology, he still believes we can make a difference. He described how the power of the next generation of eco warriors and the tenacity of the Greta Thunberg generation fills him with hope for the future of the planet.
Lively questions from the audience included a heartfelt plea about how to take action on such vast environmental issues. Paul’s advice: start with your immediate sphere of influence for most impact. His optimism was questioned in the face of so much evidence about the state of our planet but he remains positive – and he might just have passed some of that on to his appreciative audience.
News from Around the Parks / Spring 2019 / Page 6
LAKE DISTRICT NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY Local plan The Lake District National Park Authority is heralding the success of its 2018 draft Local Plan consultation resulting in significant changes to the way the development of new houses, businesses and visitor attractions will be managed within the park.
The National Park’s eight-week consultation last year resulted in a record level of responses from a wide range of ages and locations, with more than 2,700 people submitting their views on policies and potential sites.
Routes to resilience In December 2015 Storm Desmond caused £10 million damage to public paths in the Lake District and recently local partners celebrated a significant milestone in the recovery.
Over 40,000 metres of public rights of way have been reconnected through the £3 million government-funded Routes to Resilience programme. Funded by the Rural Payments Agency with money from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, the project has replaced, repaired and increased the resilience of 94 bridges, 65 public paths and 44 gates, stiles and signposts since January 2017.
Keswick to Threlkeld project A £7.9 million funding package has been agreed to allow work to start on the final phase of reconnecting the Keswick to Threlkeld Multi User Trail which was severely damaged in Storm Desmond.
Funding has been approved so far from Highways England and the European Regional Development Fund. Additionally, community fundraising by the Lake District Foundation has resulted in a £130,000 donation all which will enable the project to go ahead.
New Forest National Park
FRIENDS OF THE NEW FOREST Rewilding the New Forest The Friends of the New Forest Annual Lecture took place recently with Sir Charles Burrell from Knepp Estate, in West Sussex, talking about ‘rewilding’. He explained to a sold-out audience that rewilding is not about bringing back major predators to Britain, such as wolves or bears, as he believes we no longer have the right eco-systems to sustain them. Instead he showed how Britain, which currently has only tiny pockets of true ‘nature’ that needs to be cared for, could have a real impact on nature conservation if more, joined-up ‘rewilded’ areas were created. These areas would serve as corridors for animals, birds, insects and plants to move about and enabling them to establish new territories.
He admitted to being in awe of the New Forest and the range of species and habitat diversity it boasted. However, he called on landowners surrounding the National Park to do more to support the biodiversity of the New Forest by establishing a network of rewilded areas. Sir Charles was then joined on stage by Debbie Tann, Chief Executive of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, and Diana Westerhoff, a Verderer of the New Forest, for a panel session and questions from the floor.
Pylon project abandoned A project to remove eight electricity pylons from Hale Purlieu, in the New Forest National Park, has been shelved by National Grid following advice from legal experts, the regulator and its independent stakeholder advisory group. The “emerging complexities” surrounding European regulations, which were designed to protect the natural habitats of protected species, were cited as being part of the decision.
The funding that would have paid for the project was time limited and it was felt that any planning application would not have been processed before the end of the funding deadline. The project to underground a 3km section of overhead line was part of National Grid’s Visual Impact Provision (VIP) project, which makes use of £500m provision from Ofgem as part of the News from Around the Parks / Spring 2019 / Page 7 current price control period to reduce the landscape and visual impact of existing overhead transmission lines in nationally important landscapes in England and Wales. National Grid said it would continue to progress its VIP projects to replace pylons with underground alternatives in other locations.
Cows that glow in the dark A scheme to reduce the numbers of free-roaming cattle killed or injured by motor vehicles on the New Forest roads, by fitting them with reflective ear-tags, has recently been launched by the Verderers of the New Forest.
Last year 12 cows were killed on New Forest roads and it is hoped the reflectors will make drivers aware of the presence of livestock, particularly at night when the majority of incidents occur. Many free-roaming New Forest ponies already wear fluorescent-collars to make them more visible in the dark but, so far, there has not been a design that is suitable for cattle. Because of the shape of their heads and necks, and due to their browsing habits, deep among bushes and shrubs, cow-collars do not stay fitted for long. The glow-in-the-dark ear-tags, it is hoped, will be a more fixed solution and help to increase animal road safety.
NEW FOREST NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY A date with nature From April ‘A Date with Nature’ returned with live cameras placed high in the ‘Crown lands’ of the Forest. It shows birds of prey in their nests as they breed, hatch eggs, feed chicks and teach young how to fly. Visitors will be able to watch a birds of prey journey through the breeding season live from the Forestry England managed New Forest Reptile Centre, on the A35 near Lyndhurst, or see it online at the Forestry England or the New Forest National Park Authority’s websites.
The project is a joint venture between the RSPB, Forestry England, New Forest National Park Authority and exclusively filmed by Carnyx Wild. Staff and volunteers will be on hand at the Centre to explain more about the birds’ behaviour and answer any questions on the native reptiles that can be viewed in ‘pods’ at the Centre. Other features of the project will include live footage from the bird feeder cameras that captures the goings-on near the Centre.
Building design awards Some of the most innovative, sympathetic and ingenious new buildings in the New Forest have been celebrated with awards. The area’s distinctive and attractive buildings make an important contribution to the unique character of the National Park’s communities.
Now the best new developments over the past three years have been recognised in the New Forest National Park Authority’s annual Building Design Awards. The awards aim to celebrate high quality development and recognise the contribution that excellent design makes to the built environment of the New Forest.
The winner of the best conservation scheme category is a farmhouse in the Exbury area. It was designed by McLean Quinlan Architects and Footprint Architects and built by Emery Building and Carpentry. The farmhouse has been fully restored and minimally extended in a sympathetic style with a high standard of materials and design throughout. The members on the awards panel commended its simplicity and the obvious conservation benefit to the listed buildings on the site.
Volunteers give the New Forest a spring clean Representatives from New Forest District Council, Forestry Commission, New Forest National Park Authority and Brockenhurst Parish Council are keen to encourage people to get involved in litter-picking events throughout Spring.
Events took place across March and April to tie in with The Great British Spring Clean, a national campaign led by Keep Britain Tidy and the Year of Green Action which encourages more people from all backgrounds to get involved in projects to improve the natural world.
News from Around the Parks / Spring 2019 / Page 8
Staff from Forestry Commission, New Forest District Council and New Forest National Park Authority clear litter from Waters Green, Brockenhurst.
The Forest organisations have been jointly running the annual ‘Spring Clean ups’ since 2007 assisted by willing volunteers on hand to refresh the Forest.
Northumberland National Park
NORTHUMBERLAND NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY Flow country comes to the Sill Northumberland National Park hosted a major national exhibition at The Sill: National Landscape Discovery Centre focusing on the Flow Country, one of Europe’s last wild places. The new exhibition, which ran throughout March and April, celebrated the peatlands of the Flow Country, which stretches through Caithness and Sutherland in the far north of Scotland and is the best blanket bog of its type in the world.
It’s also a candidate UNESCO World Heritage Site, which puts it on the same level of importance as the Taj Mahal, the Grand Canyon and Hadrian’s Wall, where The Sill is located. It’s a place of vast inspirational landscapes and international importance for biodiversity.
Northumberland National Park Authority has programmed the exhibition as part of its celebrations connected to the 70th anniversary of National Parks. It is 70 years since the 1949 Act of Parliament that established the family of National Parks in England and Wales.
National Landscape Discovery Centre officially welcomes 250,000th visitor! 20 months after opening its doors to the public, The Sill: National Landscape Discovery Centre officially welcomed its 250,000th visitor.
Designed to enable more people to enjoy the rich history and stunning landscapes of rural Northumberland, the £14.8 million visitor centre at Once Brewed on Hadrian’s Wall has smashed all of Northumberland National Park Authority’s visitor predictions to achieve this key milestone more than 10 months ahead of target.
The Centre, which combines state-of-the-art facilities together with a diverse activity programme and a unique range of award-winning fixed and temporary exhibitions, provides the perfect location for people of all ages to explore some of the region’s most spectacular unspoilt scenery.
News from Around the Parks / Spring 2019 / Page 9
The Sill is the UK’s first dedicated National Landscape Discovery Centre and the result of a pioneering partnership between Northumberland National Park Authority, YHA (England and Wales), and funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) through a £7.8 million grant made possible by National Lottery players.
National Park Experience Collection launches in Northumberland The Northumberland launch of the award-winning National Park Experience Collection took place in March at The Sill: National Landscape Discovery Centre. The English National Park Experience Collection is a collaboration between England’s National Parks and local experience and accommodation providers to offer international visitors a taste of life in some of our most beautiful areas of countryside.
Earlier in March it received one of the country’s top tourism accolades, winning Visit England’s ‘Outstanding Contribution to Tourism 2019’ award.
Northumberland National Park and Northumberland Tourism worked with other English National Parks to secure £1.2m from Visit England’s Discover England Fund to develop the Collection. More than 70 experiences and 80 accommodation providers are in the new Collection across nine National Parks throughout England. Initially aimed at key overseas markets including Germany and Australia, the Collection has taken centre stage at a number of international tourism shows, and the programme team have welcomed international media and tourism representatives from around the world.
Highlights from the Northumberland National Park Experience Collection include dining and stargazing at the Battlesteads Hotel in Wark, foraging and wild cooking with Northern Wilds, exploring the bloody borders with Northumberland 300, living like a Roman with Ancient Britain, flying birds of prey with Falconry Days, joining a Ranger patrol of Hadrian’s Wall on Ebike and discovering your artistic nature with Footsteps Northumberland.
North York Moors National Park
NORTH YORKSHIRE MOORS ASSOCIATION Removal of the Seated Man In 2016 a planning application was submitted to the NPA on behalf of a landowner to place a large piece of sculpture on the top of Brown Hill. The three-metre-high figure created by the artist Sean Henry was called The Seated Man. NYMA objected to the application because it was felt that the location would be spoiled by the intrusion of this realistic painted bronze statue.
NYMA argued that being realistic, the sculpture would benefit from being viewed at close range and there was no public footpath or parking area which would allow this close examination. Although it was given permission with the condition that it would be removed after five years the figure has been removed after barely two years. The reason for its removal is the damage done to Brown Hill by the enormous number of people who visited the sculpture, significant erosion of the heather at the site of the figure as well as a wide track of erosion from the roadside parking up to the top of Brown Hill has led to its early removal. A serious underestimate of its popularity created by social media has led to many more people than expected visiting the site, something the Association feels must be a consideration in any future decisions on locating artworks in places of unspoiled landscape.
Biodiversity project As a gesture towards the International Year of Biodiversity 2010 the Association acquired permission to improve a modest patch of enclosed land above Danby Park Wood formerly a deer park.
NYMA along with the National Park had already planted some Juniper Trees in 2003 as part of the Juniper regeneration and planting scheme. Starting in 2010 with major bracken clearing work and securing fencing, a programme of tree planting News from Around the Parks / Spring 2019 / Page 10 began. The trees planted were selected to improve wildlife habitat and wildlife diversity, encouraging migratory birds and winter feeding. In the long term it is also hoped that this group of trees will develop as a climate change migratory corridor for wildlife.
With the tree planting about completed it is planned, later this year to introduce Alder Buckthorn shrubs in order to encourage the Brimstone butterfly to inhabit the site and help to increase the number of butterflies. Buckthorn is also a plant which attracts bees and other insects as well as providing late summer feeding for birds.
Link with Leeds Beckett University One of NYMA’s charitable aims is to “foster greater understanding and appreciation of the culture, biodiversity, scenery and economic and social concerns of the North York Moors”. The Association tries to do that in a number of ways: a recent initiative is a link-up with Leeds Beckett, one of northern England’s largest universities. Friends of the Dales and Friends of the Peak District are involved too.
The link is with the School of Tourism & Hospitality, whose staff have helped us design a survey to find out more about younger people’s interest in National Parks. We began it with a question on whether they’ve actually heard of the North York Moors and the other Yorkshire parks! It’s all too easy to live in our own bubble, loving and enjoying our parks, but forgetting that to so many others they’re completely unknown.
If we want the Parks to remain relevant into the future and for as broad a swathe of people as possible, the Association feels we need first to understand more about what people want – especially younger visitors, whose support for parks is vital to their survival in the face of development pressures and competing claims on national budgets. The Association report back soon on the survey results.
NORTH YORK MOORS NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY Cleveland Way 50th anniversary The Cleveland Way, which 50 years ago became only the second National Trail in Britain, is unique in its combination of breath-taking coastal stretches and stunning heather moorland. From the smugglers’ village of Robin Hood’s Bay, to the artists’ paradise of Staithes, the iconic Roseberry Topping and the ‘finest view in England’ at Sutton Bank, the Cleveland Way provides both adventure and serenity for the thousands of visitors it attracts each year.
The Trail was officially launched on 24 May 1969 from Helmsley Youth Hostel, with a ceremony taking place at Helmsley Castle. Its establishment was no small feat. The route took around 16 years to plan, inspired by Middlesbrough Rambling Club’s desire to start promoting long-distance walks along the coast and hills.
To mark the anniversary, the North York Moors National Park is hosting a series of exhibitions, events, walks, talks, and competitions. These include the ‘109 Miles’ exhibition, on display until 9 June, featuring around 100 paintings and drawings by Debbie Loane, the trail’s first ever artist-in-residence. The celebrations will also see a group of walkers (some of whom will be sporting 60’s rambling attire) set out from Helmsley to Rievaulx Abbey to recreate the original launch of the Trail.
Volunteers plant 3,500 trees in six weeks as National Park celebrates Year of Green Action Volunteer groups in the North York Moors have planted more than 3,500 trees in six weeks, as the National Park marks the start of the government’s ‘Year of Green Action’.
Volunteer groups made up of members of the public, youth groups, corporate teams and National Park staff have created a new native woodland near Danby, Whitby, by planting a mixture of oak, silver birch, hazel, rowan, crab apple, wild cherry, hawthorn and blackthorn. The mammoth task came at the start of the government’s ‘Year of Green Action’, which calls for people across the country to join together to improve the natural world.
Alasdair Fagan, Woodland Creation Officer at the North York Moors National Park Authority, said: “As well as helping to combat climate change by removing carbon from the atmosphere, mixed deciduous woodland provides a rich habitat for so many of our native species. It will be decades before these trees reach full maturity, but through careful consideration of the site and of the types of trees we plant, we can do our utmost to maximise the chances of these trees living for 100 years plus.” News from Around the Parks / Spring 2019 / Page 11
Inspired by... gallery becomes sole Northern England venue for The Lost Words exhibition The North York Moors National Park’s art gallery is set to become the only venue in Northern England to host a touring nature exhibition which is a unique collaboration between an author and an artist.
The National Park’s Inspired by… gallery at Danby will this summer host The Lost Words exhibition which is on tour from Compton Verney Art Gallery and has been widely praised for helping reconnect adults and children with the natural world using the power of words and art.
The exhibition will run from 15 June to 29 July and will display the ‘spells’ by writer Robert Macfarlane and watercolour illustrations by artist Jackie Morris that were originally used to create The Lost Words book published in 2017.
Sally-Ann Smith, curator of the Inspired by… gallery comments: “The Lost Words is a fantastic exhibition that inspires visitors to stop and think about how magical nature is in today’s world. It really resonates with our own purpose of capturing the beauty and importance of our protected landscapes through art and so we’re delighted to be hosting the exhibition this summer.”
Peak District National Park
FRIENDS OF THE PEAK DISTRICT £38,000 Heritage Lottery Funding! Established in 1924 as the Sheffield Association for the Protection of Local Scenery, this branch of CPRE was instrumental in the formation of the first National Park and Sheffield's green belt, and our archive consists of nationally significant materials, including: official documents and letters - including influential and powerful politicians and cultural figures of the day (eg. John Betjeman, and Clough Williams-Ellis); maps - with the first hand-drawn depiction of the proposed Peak District National Park boundary; display panels from the 1937 exhibition at Graves Art Gallery which attracted 16,385 visitors; posters, leaflets and other publicity and campaigning materials; plus over 10,000 photographic slides depicting local scenes and illustrating good and bad examples of building design; housing developments; road building; and other landscape conservation issues.
The HLF project will enable Friends of the Peak District to work with the Sheffield City Archive to catalogue, repair and clean the collection and focus on digitising many of the slides and photographs. And at the end of the project, as we near our 100- year anniversary (in 2024), we will produce a touring exhibition telling the story of our history, alongside a digital online archive accessible to the public.
End of quarry lorry threat to Peak village The Friends and campaigners from the local community recently celebrated as quarry owners, Stancliffe Stone (part of the Marshalls Group), withdrew a planning application to increase heavy lorries through the village of Grindleford.
This marks the end of a long campaign against Stancliffe illegally intensifying their processing operations at a linked set of locations including Stanton Moor, Rowsley and Stoke Hall at Grindleford, whilst supplying stone for the prestigious Bloomberg building project in London.
“We’re really pleased that, working with Grindleford residents, we’ve been able to send a strong message to Stancliffe that their plans were unacceptable because of significant impacts on road safety and the local community” said Andy Tickle, head of campaigns at the Friends.
The quarry still has permission to extract high quality gritstone for important local and regional building projects but the new plans would have turned the quarry into a regional processing centre, causing much more heavy lorry traffic. “We are supportive of local quarries and the jobs they provide when there is an established need for the stone” added Andy “but Stancliffe’s plans were a step too far for a sensitive location in the National Park”.
News from Around the Parks / Spring 2019 / Page 12
Celebrating 70 years of the 1949 Act Friends of the Peak District has joined with Campaign for National Parks and others to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act. Celebrations have including a special series of photos recreating the movement for National Parks.
Walkers including Sarah Mukherjee, Kate Ashbrook, Ruth George MP and Sir Patrick McCloughlin MP update a photo of the walk led by Tom Stephenson to convince parliamentarians of the case for National Parks.
CEO of Friends of the Peaks, Tomo Thompson also led proceedings for nearly 200 diverse walkers on a special 70th anniversary edition of Countryfile. Walkers including wheelchair users, BME groups, LGBT groups and more – showing that the Peak District is truly for everyone.
Andrew Hall of Campaign for National Parks said: “Friends of the Peak District has been vital in celebrating the 70th anniversary of the National Parks in the UK’s very first National Park, the Peak District. We are very grateful for their help and delighted with the impact we’ve been able to make in this special year.”
News from Around the Parks / Spring 2019 / Page 13
PEAK DISTRICT NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY Miles without Stiles – enjoying the Peak District National Park the easy way The Peak District National Park’s most accessible routes have been highlighted in a new book, Miles without Stiles, published by the National Park Authority’s access team with sponsorship from Yorkshire Water.
The guide introduces 20 routes, showcasing some of the Peak District’s finest landscapes. It contains clear maps and descriptions and photographs. It highlights areas from moorland expanses to quiet dales and introduces visitors to the Peak District’s dramatic geology, distinctive habitats and wildlife and cultural heritage.
Miles without Stiles routes are for everyone to explore and enjoy. All routes are well-surfaced, free from stiles, steps and narrow gates and are graded for different abilities. They are suitable for people of all fitness levels and those with limited mobility, including wheelchair users, families with pushchairs and the visually impaired – as well as dog walkers with less agile dogs.
Renovation brings new lease of life to Millers Dale Millers Dale station is a former railway building and popular stopping-off point on the National Park Authority-owned Monsal Trail, which attracts more than 140,000 visitors every year. The former ticket office has been restored and opened to the public, in a development that includes a new cafe and visitor information point. Improvements to the car park and former goods shed have also been made. The old station building had recently operated as a ranger base, with limited visitor facilities, including toilets and basic refreshments.
The scheme has helped to safeguard the historic buildings for the future while retaining the sensitive and classic appearance of the platform, where trains last passed through more than half a century ago. It will also generate funds for the National Park Authority to continue looking after them.
Along with restoring the exterior and rejuvenating the traditional feel of the ticket office, careful consideration was given to the use of renewable energy, and to minimise impacts on wildlife such as brown long-eared bats and migratory house martins, works took place outside of the breeding season, and new bird nesting areas and bat boxes have been provided.
Support for banning sky lanterns During last summer’s wildfires, the Peak District National Park Authority supported a local campaign to successfully stop a sky lantern festival going ahead on the edge of the National Park’s moorlands at Buxton. The National Park Authority took a firm stance that sky lanterns are litter and should be banned because of the risks they pose.
There is increasing evidence concerning their use and their potential impacts on the countryside, both in terms of the health and welfare risks for livestock, unintended impact on wildlife, and the risk of landscapes and property being ignited by lanterns.
A recent review carried out by Defra and the Welsh Government concluded that sky lanterns pose a significant fire risk. Due to the unpredictable nature of sky lanterns flight paths, lanterns launched some distance away (even from urban areas) can have significant consequences in the Peak District.
In March this year, Ruth George MP for High Peak, introduced a cross-party Ten Minute Rule Bill calling for sky-lanterns to be banned from use in England. Along with the Peak District National Park Authority, the NFU, RSPCA and Derbyshire Fire Service are also supporting the Bill to ban sky lanterns.
News from Around the Parks / Spring 2019 / Page 14
Pembrokeshire Coast National Park
PEMBROKESHIRE COAST NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY New charity to help protect the Pembrokeshire Coast A new charity has been set up to support and promote conservation, communities and culture in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Trust aims to protect the National Park for future generations by improving how the land is managed for wildlife, working to meet the challenges of climate change, highlighting the area’s history and culture and ensuring the Park is accessible to all.
Broadcaster Jamie Owen, who is Patron of the new charity said: “I feel privileged to have been able to explore every corner of the National Park’s landscape over the years, from childhood walks on the beaches of South Pembrokeshire, to walking in the rugged hills of the north and travelling to the offshore islands.
“It’s easy to forget about the work that goes into looking after these special places, which is why I’m happy to support this new charity, that will fund essential projects that will give more people opportunities to experience the places and adventures I’ve been lucky enough to encounter.”
Pembrokeshire Coast Trust Patron Jamie Owen at Strumble Head.
Pembrokeshire launch for Europarc Youth Manifesto A group of young people who volunteer regularly to conserve and enhance the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park have launched a new manifesto, which they created alongside counterparts from rural areas and protected places across Europe.
National Park Youth Rangers Cat Edwards, Matt Gillard and Ethan Tizzard presented the Europarc Youth Manifesto titled A Call for Change in Rural Communities and Protected Areas at a recent meeting of the National Park Authority.
Some of the Youth Rangers formed part of the original group of young people from across the continent that developed the document in workshops in Scotland and Finland. They then went on to attend the launch in the Cairngorms National Park earlier this year at the Europarc Conference themed European Parks; Inspired by the Next Generation.
Following the meeting the Youth Rangers said: “Members of the Authority congratulated us on the manifesto and our presentation, but we were after something a little more concrete to help move things forward. “The committee then agreed to create a working group to bring some Authority Members and young people to together, in order to identify and prioritise more ideas for future action, which is what we wanted.”
The manifesto focuses on three areas important to young people; living, learning and working in rural areas, and calls for youth empowerment and greater involvement in decision making so they can influence the policies that will impact on their lives and those of future generations.
The Youth Rangers would like young people from other youth organisations to get involved in these discussions, and are also looking for other opportunities to present and discuss the manifesto in Pembrokeshire.
News from Around the Parks / Spring 2019 / Page 15
Illegal felling of protected trees highlighted by Park Authority signs The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority has resorted to the unprecedented step of erecting two temporary information signs on land at Upper Burrows in Freshwater East where protected trees were felled and abandoned. In 2017 more than 30 trees in a woodland protected by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) and owned by the Authority and a local resident, were illegally cut down.
Park Authority Director of Park Direction and Planning, Jane Gibson said: “This is the worst breach of a TPO I have encountered, with felling on land that didn’t belong to the perpetrator, and the Authority is left to undertake remedial work to selectively clear, coppice and replant the site at significant cost.”
Signs are highlighting illegal felling.
Snowdonia National Park
SNOWDONIA SOCIETY Snowdonia Society flies the flag for curlews On Saturday 13th April 2019 the Snowdonia Society hosted a day of activities as part of national efforts to save the rapidly declining curlew alongside a clutch of conservation organisations including the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), North Wales Wildlife Trust, National Trust and the RSPB.
BTO’s Dr Rachel Taylor, a researcher into Snowdonia curlew populations, led a walk to a local breeding site for members of the public which included local farmers and school children. She highlighted the sharp decline in breeding curlews and explained the urgent need for researchers, organisations and land owners to work together to protect nesting birds and their habitat.
For many people the curlew’s mournful call summons up the spirit of open spaces and wild nature. But far from being wilderness, the curlew’s habitat is the product of traditional low-intensity farming. These wild birds need our help. If today’s children are to grow up and share that curlew connection, we need to spread the word and support those who are working together now to meet the challenges. News from Around the Parks / Spring 2019 / Page 16
South Downs National Park
SOUTH DOWNS SOCIETY Society policy officer Policy Officer. Steve Ankers, died in March, some six months after his illness had been diagnosed. His knowledge and experience from years of planning work for Greater Manchester and East Sussex County Council was a huge asset to the Society. But he will be missed as a friend by all who worked with him, both in the Society and at Campaign for National Parks. Many National Park Societies' members will remember him from the conferences over the past eleven years.
The Society has now strongly welcomed a successor in Vic Lent. Vic brings experience as a member of several local authorities and as one of the Society's District Officers, working at the sharp end on our planning work in East Sussex.
National Park entry signs After many years of pressure by the South Downs Society, the National Park Authority has now drawn up a comprehensive programme to provide roadside signs on major roads leading into the Park and the first have been put in place. One of the new signs erected in the South Downs.
North Street development, Lewes This development in a large area of Lewes north of the town centre is highly important in the largest town within the South Downs National Park.
The phases currently being considered have been the subject of representations by the Society's Policy Officer as falling far short of what is required on sustainability grounds. In particular, the limitation of energy supply to gas and solar panels does not meet the demands of government policy let alone the mounting need for action to control global warming.
SOUTH DOWNS NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY Otters thrive on the River Meon in the South Downs Otters were thought to be locally extinct in Hampshire until recent years when reductions in river pollution due and to less intensive farming methods and river restoration through the Meon Valley Partnership have seen populations bounce back.
Rangers at the South Downs National Park now believe there are three breeding females on the River Meon, a chalkstream flowing from the South Downs near East Meon and into the Solent. Two otters were recently captured on camera by the team’s wildlife camera climbing on to a raft – used to monitor river-dwelling species – under the cover of the darkness.
“Seeing an otter, let alone two, is quite special so we were all really inspired when we saw this footage,” said Elaina Whittaker- Slark, Lead Ranger for the Western Downs. “It’s been an incredible turnaround for this charismatic creature when you consider no otters had been noted on the River Meon, even 10 years ago. The return of the species is an indicator that water quality has significantly improved in the region, due to river restoration and declining use of pesticides.”
First pilot signs are unveiled for the South Downs National Park Bespoke signs that reflect the unique heritage of the South Downs and create a sense of arrival have been installed at specially chosen locations at, or near, the National Park’s borders across Sussex and Hampshire.
News from Around the Parks / Spring 2019 / Page 17
The signs will help people know that they are in a unique landscape that has been designated for the whole nation and deserves special care and attention. Every location has been carefully selected at key entry points to the stunning landscape and each sign’s size and design have been tailor-made to fit its surroundings.
The signs are made from iron or a mixture of wood and iron – reflecting the history of iron work in the South Downs during the 17th and 18th centuries and that the South Downs has the most woodland of any English National Park. The sweet chestnut wood used in the signs has been locally sourced from the Stansted Estate by English Woodlands. The white lettering reflects the iconic chalk landscape of the South Downs.
Trevor Beattie, Chief Executive of the South Downs National Park Authority said: “These beautifully-crafted signs pay homage to the heritage of the South Downs and welcome people to a precious landscape, reminding them that it should be enjoyed with care and respect.
“Throughout history boundary markers have used local materials to reflect a community’s pride in its place. These bespoke signs are part of that tradition. They add to the National Park’s value as a destination to visit in support of local businesses, including our top-quality food and drink producers and the many well-being and leisure opportunities that the South Downs offer.”
Authority approves two innovative projects to diversify farms Two innovative farm diversification schemes have been given the green light by the South Downs National Park Authority. The planning committee voted to approve plans for multi-million pound projects at the Wiston Estate, North Farm, Washington, and Sky Park Farm in West Harting.
Work has now started to create a rural business park anchored by the Wiston Estate Winery. The plans include demolishing, converting, and extending the current winery and offices, in addition to building five self-contained holiday units. The work is being supported by a wide-ranging infrastructure package, including improved habitat connectivity, better routes and wayfinding for users and visitors to the site, and surface water drainage that will help improve water quality.
Wiston Estate. Photo credit: Matthew J Thomas
Meanwhile, at West Harting, an educational and visitor enterprise will diversify the existing agricultural operation of the site as a working Deer Farm. Supported by a new farm shop, visitor café, and outdoor children’s activity area, the project will promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the National Park. The plans were also News from Around the Parks / Spring 2019 / Page 18 supported by The British Deer Farms and Parks Association, which noted it is a model for diversification and sustainable deer farming in the UK.
Both landscape-led schemes were approved following pre-application discussions, giving careful consideration to design and impact.
Tim Slaney, Director of Planning at the South Down National Park Authority, said: “Both these schemes represent large-scale and well-thought-out rural diversification. They are perfect examples of a landscape-led planning approach to deliver high- quality schemes that deliver on multiple levels. These include supporting a sustainable rural economy through job creation and promoting people’s enjoyment of the National Park.”
Yorkshire Dales National Park
FRIENDS OF THE DALES Speaking out against closure of Clapham C of E Primary School Mark Corner, Chair of the charity said: “We are very concerned that the closure of Clapham Primary School would further reduce the sustainability of its local community. We recognise the challenge of low pupil numbers but to close the school at a time when significant efforts are being made to reverse the decline in the number of younger people living in the Yorkshire Dales National Park would, we suggest, be a regrettable decision.
Recently, the Leaders of the four constituent district councils and the National Park Authority have agreed an objective in the National Park Management Plan 2019-2024 to ‘Undertake a 5-year programme of measures to promote the National Park as a place to live for younger, working age households (18-44) to help halt the decline in their numbers.’
There are already positive developments in Clapham with the delivery of new housing. We suggest that NYCC needs to have confidence that this plan will deliver. We believe there is a danger that if the potential number of school age children in the catchment grows as a result of these efforts and the school has closed then we will have a capacity problem and the ability to attract young families to the area will be damaged. We will be ‘shooting ourselves in the foot’.
We would strongly recommend that the decision on the future of the school is put on hold for at least 12 months to give time for this plan to start delivering.
We are also not clear why the previous arrangement of the confederation of the Clapham and Austwick schools cannot be re-established, with a shared Head etc.”
Success in campaign against development of flashes Local and national campaigning charities have welcomed the decision to refuse planning permission for a leisure holiday complex comprising a 100 bed hotel and up to 300 chalets proposed for pristine countryside in the Dales. Over 100 people attended a special planning committee of Craven District Council yesterday, 25 March 2019, with cheers and applause greeting the decision.
Ann Shadrake, executive director of Friends of the Dales said “We congratulate members of Craven District Council on their unanimous decision to refuse planning permission for a huge leisure village on the edge of the lovely Dales village of Hellifield. Councillors fully considered the robust reasons for refusal put forward in a comprehensive report from their Planning Officer, and listened to the superb presentations from local objectors and parish representatives. We are thrilled that this beautiful area of open countryside on the boundary of the national park and its wealth of precious wildlife has been saved for the future.”
Ruth Bradshaw, policy and research manager for Campaign for National Parks said: "We’re really pleased that Craven District Council members took their responsibilities towards the National Park on their doorstep seriously. This decision will ensure that the landscape and wildlife of this beautiful area can continue to flourish." News from Around the Parks / Spring 2019 / Page 19
YORKSHIRE DALES NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY Westmorland Dales wins Lottery support The Westmorland Dales Landscape Partnership scheme has been awarded a National Lottery grant of £2.27 million. A total of 21 projects will be delivered by a partnership of organisations over a four-year period. These will aim to reveal, conserve and celebrate the rich geology, wildlife, cultural heritage and spectacular limestone landscapes of the Westmorland Dales.
Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority chairman, Carl Lis, said: “Following the recent designation of the Westmorland Dales as part of the National Park, this wonderful news gives us the opportunity to create a strong foundation for its future. The injection of resources will help us reveal and conserve the area’s rich natural and cultural heritage; and promote the understanding and enjoyment of its special qualities, its tranquil and unspoilt character, and its unique heritage.
“At the heart of our efforts will be a focus on what is distinctive about the Westmorland Dales, using this to bring benefits that will help sustain the local economy in the coming years.”
The Westmorland Dales looking towards the Howgills. Photo credit: Andy Kay, YDNPA
Restoring ‘the Amazon of the Yorkshire Dales’ Until the late 1950s, the bog at Fleet Moss would have consisted of a layer (or ‘blanket’) of peat some four metres deep. About a metre of peat is thought to form every 1000 years. This was a significantly huge store of carbon, as well as a natural facility which held water on the moor.
Work is being undertaken to restore Fleet Moss, a priority area for the Yorkshire Peat Partnership. More than 400 hectares of Fleet Moss have been restored so far. Now funding from Pennine PeatLIFE, Defra and owners supported by agri- environment scheme payments, totalling £510,000, is in place to pay for the restoration of a further 100 hectares over the next three years.
Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority Member Champion for the Natural Environment, Ian McPherson, said: “Almost all the blanket bog in the Yorkshire Dales National Park is internationally-designated for wildlife. Peatland restoration is perhaps the most obvious and the most important environmental work we can do in the Dales because in terms of biodiversity and sequestering carbon, the gains are enormous.
News from Around the Parks / Spring 2019 / Page 20
“It has been calculated that investment in restoring peatlands right across the northern Pennines would generate net benefits of £760 million pounds over 40 years – just from the value of the carbon stored and the improvements in wildlife.” The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, together with the Environment Agency, Yorkshire Water, Natural England and the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, is among the core funding members of Yorkshire Peat Partnership. The Trust coordinates the practical works on the ground.
Landscape conserved with barn decisions Members of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority voted to refuse applications for three barn conversation barns near Appersett, Hawes and Grinton, because of the harm such conversions would do to the landscape.
Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority Chairman and Planning Committee member, Carl Lis, said: “I need to stress that we are permitting lots of barn conversions – 99 of them since 2015, against eight refusals – but they do need to be in the right locations.”
“To approve the applications would have led to landscape harm, in part because such developments would bring with them new tracks, car parking, lighting, overhead lines and the other facilities necessary for residential use.
“Some Members made the argument that we should have approved the applications in order to help the applicants find an affordable home. I think it is not a case of deciding between looking after the landscape and looking after local people. The two must be taken together, as it is the fantastic landscape of the Park that provides the engine for the local economy.”
He added: “I can understand the disappointment of the applicants, but if they believe we have made the wrong decision they have recourse to appeal to an Independent Planning Inspector.”
News from Around the Parks / Spring 2019 / Page 21