Natural England - Have your say: Last call for views on Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks expansion

Have your say: Last call for views on Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks expansion

4 March 2010

With two weeks to go to the end of the consultation on proposals to extend the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks, Natural England is encouraging people from across the country to air their views. The consultation began nearly three months ago and members of the public have until 17th March 2010 to give their thoughts on the important boundary changes that are being proposed.

Areas such as the Northern Howgill Fells, and the Birkbeck Fells to Whinfell, are among several very special landscapes in the area that Natural England has identified as candidates for consideration for National Park status owing to their natural beauty and the opportunities they afford for open air recreation. Consultees are also asked to consider whether, if the Orton Fells are designated, they should be included within the Lake District National Park or the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

Extending the National Parks has been talked about for many years and work on these particular proposals began in 2005. Over the last three months, large numbers of people have participated in the consultation, in writing and via the project website. Many of the respondents live in and around the parks, but the consultation is a national one, open to anyone.

Although the consultation process has prompted debate about name changes to the expanded National Parks, Natural England is not putting forward proposals for any name change. The consultation is about whether the proposed new areas are of sufficient landscape quality to merit National Park designation and will help inform Natural England’s boundary recommendations to government. Natural England will reflect the views people have expressed about this or any other relevant issue to the Secretary of State for the Environment, who will make his own determination of any changes to the boundaries or the consequences of such changes.

Helen Phillips, Chief Executive of Natural England, said: “The Yorkshire Dales and Lake District National Parks form an essential part of our environmental heritage. Potential changes to their boundaries are clearly important and we would not take such a major step without giving as many people as possible the opportunity to scrutinise our proposals. These landscapes are national treasures and it is vital that the whole country takes part in the debate on where the National Park boundaries should lie. The deadline for consultation is approaching and we would like to hear from anyone with an interest in the Lake District or the Yorkshire Dales who has still to contact us.”

You can respond to the consultation via the project website which contains additional supporting documents, including detailed maps and a list of frequently asked questions. You can also request further details by telephoning 0161 273 8235, e-mailing nwdesignationproject@naturalengland.org.uk,  or writing to Lakes to Dales Landscape Designation Project, Natural England, Bridgewater House, 60 Whitworth Street, Manchester M1 6LT.

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Notes to editors

Details of proposed extensions

The areas proposed for inclusion in the Lake District or Yorkshire Dales National Parks are:

Lake District National Park:

  • Birkbeck Fells to Whinfell

  • Helsington Barrows to Sizergh Fell and the Lyth Valley

Yorkshire Dales National Park:

  • Northern Howgill Fells

  • Mallerstang and Wild Boar Fell

  • Middleton, Barbon and Leck Fells

  • Firbank Fell

  • Lower Lune Valley and adjacent fells to the west

Part of the Lake District National Park or the Yorkshire Dales National Park:

  • Orton Fells

About Natural England

Natural England is the government’s independent advisor on the natural environment. Established in 2006 our work is focused on enhancing England’s wildlife and landscapes and maximising the benefits they bring to the public.

  • We establish and care for England’s main wildlife and geological sites, ensuring that over 4,000 National Nature Reserves and Sites of Special Scientific Interest are looked after and improved.

  • We work to ensure that England’s landscapes are effectively protected, designating England’s National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and Marine Conservation Zones, and advising widely on their conservation.

  • We run England’s Environmental Stewardship green farming schemes that deliver over £400 million a year to farmers and landowners, enabling them to enhance the natural environment across two thirds of England’s farmland.

  • We fund, manage, and provide scientific expertise for hundreds of conservation projects each year, improving the prospects for thousands of England’s species and habitats.

  • We promote access to the wider countryside, helping establish National Trails and coastal trails and ensuring that the public can enjoy and benefit from them.


For further information contact: The National Press Office on 0845 603 9953, press@naturalengland.org.uk out of hours 07970 098005.  For further information about Natural England please visit: www.naturalengland.org.uk

 

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