Wild but Not Free: call for inquiry into military training in National Parks

12 January 2007 

The Council for National Parks (1) (CNP) has today published new research (2) which assesses the impacts of military training on National Parks, calls for an independent inquiry and recommends ways in which the impacts on the Parks could be reduced.

The research highlights the fundamental conflict between some military training activities and National Parks, particularly firing with live ammunition, training with heavy artillery weapons and low flying by fast jets.  These can lead to access bans during live firing, visual intrusion from military infrastructure such as look-out huts, warning flags and roads or tracks and noise disturbance which has an impact on people and wildlife.

CNP Head of Policy Ruth Chambers said: “CNP accepts that the armed forces need to train in the UK and that it would be unreasonable and impractical to argue that all military training in National Parks should cease.  The key issue is whether all the training that happens in National Parks needs to happen there and whether military intensification in National Parks is acceptable.

“Given the importance of the National Parks as national breathing spaces where millions of people seek tranquillity and wildness, we question whether the public interest is best served by continuing military training at current levels in National Parks.  We recommend that an independent review of military training and National Parks should be held with the aim of relieving some of the impact on the Parks from live firing, low flying and military infrastructure”.

CNP military campaigner David Murray added “The National Parks and the military presence are uncomfortable bedfellows.  Sometimes they rub along well – the Ministry of Defence’s conservation efforts are a gold standard within government.  But sometimes they clash dramatically.  We call on the Ministry of Defence to take action to lessen the impacts of military training on the National Parks and our research suggests several ways in which this could be done”.

Jonathan Cardale, Chief Executive of the Dartmoor Preservation Association (3) said “We welcome the conclusions of this research and agree that an inquiry is the most appropriate and transparent process by which the conflicts between the training needs of our servicemen and the purposes of the National Park can be assessed within the context of licence renewal (4).  The inquiry must also examine ways in which the impact of training might be reduced and public access increased.”

Notes to editors

1.                   CNP is the national charity that works to protect and enhance the National Parks of England and Wales, and those areas that merit National Park status, and to promote understanding and quiet enjoyment of them for the benefit of all.

2.                   Wild but Not Free: Military Training in National Parks and A Continuing Need? Military Training and the Dartmoor National Park.  The full reports can be accessed online at www.cnp.org.uk/ from 12 January

3.                   The Dartmoor Preservation Association was founded in 1883.  It campaigns against inappropriate developments which threaten Dartmoor and its immediate surroundings, and it lobbies for increased access for all.  The Association also does active conservation work and educational projects in cooperation with the National Park Authority.

4.                   For more information on the Duchy Licence renewals and military training on Dartmoor visit

http://www.dartmoor-npa.gov.uk/dartmoor_and_its_military_use__2005_status

For press queries please contact:
Ruth Chambers, Head of Policy on
020 7924 4077 ext. 222