National Parks are key to the future of the countryside
14 June 2001
National Parks have a key role to play in bringing new life to the countryside following the foot and mouth outbreak. At a celebration of National Parks in the 21st Century held by the Council for National Parks (CNP) (1)(2), Sue Essex AM (Minister for Environment, Planning and Transport) hailed National Parks as role models for sustainable development in Wales (3).
"There is a huge opportunity in Wales to leap forward to the future with sustainable development", said Sue Essex. "The National Parks in Wales (4) are already taking a lead, and this will give us a clear picture of how to bring new life to the countryside."
Sue Essex looked at the last 50 years of National Parks in Wales and the challenges ahead. She said, "Those who fought for National Parks 50 years ago would be really gratified with the result. Looking to the future, one of the areas the National Parks will really take a lead on, and have already started on, is sustainable development."
She pointed to the importance of National Parks to Wales, and to the fact that they cover so much of the country: 20% of the land of Wales is in a National Park. Since devolution, when the National Assembly took over responsibility for funding National Parks, the National Parks in Wales have been given more funding as a mark of appreciation for their good work.
The challenge for the future, said Sue Essex, is to carry on doing the good things and to bring the people along with them, to make sure that all sections of society can enjoy our National Parks.
CNP is starting to do just that. The guest speaker at the event was Professor Ron Edwards CBE, Vice-President of CNP (5), and he pointed to the exciting work that CNP is doing to bring deprived communities to the National Parks with its "National Parks’ Multi-Cultural Initiative" (6). The initiative, which will run over three years across seven National Parks in England and Wales, will bring ethnic communities into the countryside to enjoy a completely new experience.
"The National Parks’ Multi-Cultural Initiative took its first step here in Wales, in the Brecon Beacons National Park", said Professor Edwards. "CNP and its partners are at the forefront of bringing greater opportunities to different sections of society to have physical and spiritual refreshment in the National Parks. I very much congratulate CNP on this initiative."
The event was very well attended by Assembly Members of all parties. Over 65 people joined the evening celebration, including 30 Assembly Members and their staff as well as representatives from the private, public and voluntary sectors.
Notes to editors
1 The Council for National Parks is the national charity that works to protect and enhance the National Parks of England and Wales and areas that merit National Park status, and promote understanding and quiet enjoyment of them for the benefit of all.
2 The Council for National Parks held a reception on the theme of "Celebrating of National Parks in the 21st Century" at the National Assembly for Wales, Cardiff Bay, on 12 June.
3 "Sustainable development" is development that brings benefits to the local economy, the society and the environment equally.
4 There are three National Parks in Wales: Brecon Beacons, Pembrokeshire Coast, Snowdonia.
5 Professor Ron Edwards chaired the National Parks Review Panel in 1991. Many of the recommendations of the review became law through the Environment Act 1995.
6 The National Parks’ Multi-Cultural Initiative is a three-year project which has secured major funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The initiative is a partnership between the Council for National Parks (CNP) and Black Environment Network. BEN is a UK-wide organisation established to promote full participation by ethnic communities in the preservation, protection and development of the environment.
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