There has been positive and widespread coverage of our announcement to boost nature recovery and safeguard England’s iconic national parks for future generations, in plans set out by the Environment Secretary George Eustice.
The proposals, which will be subject to consultation, are set out in the Government’s response to Julian Glover’s independent Landscapes Review which looked at whether the protections for National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) are still fit for purpose.
Over the weekend, a piece on BBC News Online ran on the announcement, noting that the proposals include creating management plans for those in charge of national parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs), and encouraging local leaders across England to bring the public closer to nature.
This announcement was also covered positively in the Times, Daily Mail, Independent, and regionally in outlets such as the Yorkshire Post and Western Morning News. The news ran on the Today Programme and LBC bulletins, and Farming Today interviewed Julian Glover on the proposals.
Today, Monday 17 January, further coverage has also appeared in The I and Western Daily Press, and Natural England’s Chair Tony Juniper was interviewed by BBC Radio Somerset.
Environment Secretary George Eustice said:
Our National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty are amongst our nation’s greatest and most cherished natural wonders. The comprehensive set of measures set out today represents a new chapter in the story of our protected landscapes and we have worked closely with stakeholders to carefully form our response.
These reforms will play a pivotal role in meeting our international commitment to protect 30% of land for biodiversity by 2030 as we build back greener.
Chair of Natural England, Tony Juniper said:
From the beauty of the sandy beaches of the Scillies to the rugged glory of Northumberland, our protected landscapes are integral to our national identity, our health and wellbeing and our country’s prosperity.
As Government’s statutory landscape advisor, Natural England has a pivotal role in making sure our National Parks and AONBs are beautiful, thriving places. We welcome this package of measures which will help them deliver even more for the whole of society and combat the twin challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss. We look forward to playing a leading role in the national landscapes partnership and working closely with Government, protected landscape bodies and stakeholders to deliver these ambitious proposals.
Julian Glover, who led the review, said:
‘This is our chance to make England’s landscapes more beautiful, better for people who visit and live in them and far more alive with nature. Our countryside is there for all of us, but from the heaths of the New Forest to the high fells of the Lake District, it is under pressure in an urban world. It won’t be enough just to try to conserve what we have inherited - we can change the story from decline to recovery, to make them greener, more welcoming and full of hope. The review I led showed what needs to be done and I’m pleased the Government has agreed to act.
The consultation closes on Saturday 9 April 2022 and can be found here.
4 comments
Comment by Richard Ogden posted on
Can we trust the powers to be to carry out the necessary and force the farmers , water companies and industrial companies to adhere to the legislation.
Comment by Sue Hines posted on
The Norfolk & Suffolk Broads are lumped in with national parks although they are subject to different legislation and should be treated separately because of the navigation element. George Eustice needs to understand this.
Comment by John W. Baxter posted on
First things first......make the waste water discharge national disgrace in the National Parks transparent .....ie not opaque and get rid of the signage clutter that has come to adorn the parks so we may then get back to enjoying safe places to bathe and walk if that is what we need.
To have healthy parks we need healthy water courses , monitored and protected from the water industry who have failed in self policing because of pressure from shareholders to deliver dividends and loan repayments which have grown as fast if not faster than the waste , invisible to those without a test kit, being discharged to water courses via outdated treatment assets. Time to get with it!.
Comment by Richard Ogden posted on
You are so right in what you say. What hope have we when the Government and the Environment Agency can't control the water companies , agricultural pollution etc when the already existing legislation is there. It is obvious you need outside control of the above to monitor what is going on. Self policing will not work. Fines don't seem to be a deterrent so one has to make the head of the responsible companies liable personally.