Campaign for National Parks Anniversary review 2011 Celebrating 75 years of successful campaigning Celebrating 75 years of the Campaign for National Parks 1936-2011 Countryside has “been central to me - all my life I’ve loved the countryside. I must have been still shuffling and not yet walking when my family had me camping on Dartmoor. I have been a passionate supporter of National Parks ever since. We must resolutely fight to preserve and enhance their invaluable role and re-kindle the flame that inspired the early pioneers. ” Lord Judd, Vice President of the Campaign for National Parks Not long after “I had left school a workmate invited me to go walking in the Surrey Hills, eventually the South Downs. I walked in National Parks until the War put a stop to it. After the War, I came across a publication by a chap called John Dower. Tom Stephenson (Standing Committee Member) leading He had the right ideas about Labour MPs on the Pennine Way in 1948 (Ramblers’ Association) how to open National Parks up for all while protecting them from despoliation. I was in the House of Commons to listen to the Second Reading of what became the 1949 National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act. ” Len Clark, Council member of the Campaign for National Parks Kinder Scout Mass Trespass (Peak District NPA) I spent all my early family holidays at Eastbourne and “heard Chamberlain's radio broadcast that we were at war on 3 September 1939 while in what was to become the South Downs National Park. Today, during times of breathtaking changes in scientific and industrial development, the human need to be able to spend time in wilder and more beautiful places becomes increasingly vital. In the end these landscapes, changing through the years, are priceless possessions in themselves to be cherished equally with the masterpieces of painting, literature, and music. ” Richard Reed, Council member of the Campaign for National Parks John Dower (Pauline Dower) The story of National Parks Mosaic Champion, Mashood Ahmed The Campaign for National Parks began Parks to safeguard their landscapes and in the Lake District National Park life when a group of committed outdoor wildlife and enshrined a right of access (Victor de Jesus) enthusiasts and organisations set about for everyone – regardless of background. campaigning to secure permanent protection for Britain’s finest landscapes However, National Parks legislation does so that everyone could enjoy them. not mean that our National Parks are In 1936, those early pioneers joined safe. The effects of climate change, forces to form the Standing Committee large-scale energy developments, on National Parks, which 75 years later, pressure for commercial growth and is now the Campaign for National Parks. proposals to increase housing can all work against the conservation of natural The outbreak of the Second World War habitats, activities and the heritage of overtook events and interrupted the National Parks. Standing Committee’s campaign but, once the War had ended, a civil servant The Campaign for National Parks has NATIONAL PARK TIMELINE called John Dower published a White been campaigning successfully for the Paper in 1945 that set out the last 75 years to keep these beautiful 1930s philosophy of the early National Park spaces safe and open to everyone. k Campaigners lobby the campaigners: We have worked with many people and government for measures to organisations to fight the threats to protect the countryside. “National Parks are for people National Parks and have opened them of every class and kind, from up to people and communities who 1936 every part of the country.” didn’t think or know that National Parks k Standing Committee on were relevant to them. National Parks set up The subsequent 1949 National Parks (becomes the Council for and Access to the Countryside Act From this robust background, we have National Parks in 1977, and established the legislation for National exciting new plans for the future. the Campaign for National Parks in 2008). Fulking in the South Downs National Park (Natural England - McCoy Wynne) 1949 k Government Act passed to establish National Parks. 1951 k First National Park, the Peak District, created with seven more following during the 1950s. 1995 k Environment Act strengthens the purposes of National Parks and establishes independent authorities to run them. 2005 k The New Forest becomes first National Park of the 21st century. 2009 k The South Downs is confirmed as a National Park. Abseiling in the Yorkshire Dales National Park (Yorkshire Dales NPA) Vision for the future Our vision is that National Parks are beautiful and inspirational places that should be enjoyed and valued by all. Climbing in Northumberland National Park (Northumberland NPA) Our vision is that National Parks are new ideas about sustainable transport beautiful and inspirational places that and community energy projects. should be enjoyed and valued by all. And there has been an explosion of people taking part in adventure sports. We are proud of our strong reputation National Parks have a critical role to for protecting and enhancing National play in all of these developments. Parks so that everyone can enjoy and benefit from them. However, the need We have a bold new strategy to help Footpath construction in the Lake District for our work is just as great now as it us to meet the challenges and seize National Park (Lake District NPA) was 75 years ago – if not more so. the opportunities. It puts people and In an increasingly crowded island, the their interaction with National Parks at pressures and challenges on our the centre of everything that we do. precious green spaces are immense. THROUGH OUR STRATEGY We intend to make sure that these WE WILL: One of the biggest threats is that beautiful and inspirational places people take National Parks for granted are protected and enhanced – k Help people to understand and assume that they will always be for the next 75 years, and beyond. why National Parks matter by safe. But National Parks are demonstrating how they benefit vulnerable to modern pressures such Helen Jackson people, communities and the as spending cuts, changes to farming chief executive environment. practices, the march of overhead pylons and the need for new housing. k Lead debate, take action, and encourage more people and Despite some formidable challenges, organisations to challenge there are also important opportunities threats to National Parks so that for National Parks – and we want to they are better protected. make the most of these. For example, this government has bold proposals k Inspire more people to get for creating woodland and recovering involved with and enjoy National wildlife, and climate change has Parks so that they are better prompted innovative thinking about looked after. how we manage our society including Achieving our strategy We want to inspire everyone to enjoy and look after National Parks. OUR ACHIEVEMENTS IN 2010 We will do this by involving people in TO 2011 INCLUDE: k Leading the campaign for the National Parks and our campaigns, National Park Authorities to be removed from the Public Bodies to make sure that our voice is heard. Bill, which would have given ministers free reign to abolish them or transfer and amend their functions. k Providing expert information and analysis through our network of members and local campaigners to get more people Mosaic organised involved in taking action against visit to the threats to National Parks. South Downs National Park k Getting ministerial (Sarah Wilson) commitment that National Parks will still be protected under new Muker meadows in the Yorkshire Dales National Planning Policy National Park (John Starkey) proposals. k We scanned the political environment thoroughly following the general election and kept our partners and members fully briefed on key announcements and concerns. k Running a strong media campaign to make the case for National Park funding to be protected during the spending review, including a joint statement with National Park Societies. k Hosting a Parliamentary reception at the House of Lords Making our that celebrated our achievements voice count over 75 years and brought together all our current work. We lobby decision makers at Westminster, Whitehall and the National Assembly for Wales and consult on the major issues facing National Parks. We identify decisions Working in partnership – our Council members and actions that would threaten the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of Parks and challenge these. Partnership working is at the heart of everything we do and our Council is one of the very practical ways in which we do this. Much of our work is carried out in There are 40 Council members, including 25 environmental and partnership with other organisations, amenity organisations, all the National Park Authorities and National businesses and local people so we Park Societies of England and Wales, our Vice Presidents and can share ideas, offer solutions, National Park experts. We work together to exchange information and suggest alternatives and exchange develop a shared vision for National Parks. Our Council represents best practice. over three million people who have an interest in National Parks. Reaching out to new audiences Our award-winning Mosaic programme opens up National Parks to people who may not think or know that National Parks are available to them. Mosaic recruits, trains and supports Champions so that they have the skills, knowledge and confidence to get involved in National Parks themselves and promote Parks in their communities – organising visits, volunteering on conservation projects and enthusing other people to become involved. We have run Mosaic projects for people from ethnic minority communities and for young people, and we recently secured funding from the Big Lottery to extend Mosaic into Wales.