Sir Chris Bonington celebrates 50 years of National Parks in the Peak District

25 June 1999

Sir Chris Bonington, President of the national charity, the Council for National Parks is to visit the Peak District National Park on the 1 and 2 July.  The visit is to mark the 50th anniversary of the Act of Parliament which set up the National Parks of England and Wales.  Sir Chris will be visiting the Peak with members of the National Park Authority and the local CPRE branch to see at first hand some of the issues that currently face the area.

Talking before his visit, Sir Chris said: "50 years of National Parks have brought us a long way: National Parks were designated for the benefit of the nation, to protect beautiful areas of the countryside and for peoples' enjoyment.  Much has been achieved in those 50 years, however there are continuing threats to them all.  My visit to the Peak District National Park will enable me to see the work that is being done to make the Peak District a better place for all - visitors and residents alike."

Sir Chris's visit will start with a tour with CPRE of some of the quarrying sites in the Bradwell area.  Balancing the economic activity of quarrying with the protection of this designated landscape is one of the main challenges in the Peak.  He will also see some of the tourism pressures in the area.

Sir Chris will give an illustrated lecture: "National Parks for all: the next fifty years" at 7.30pm on 1 July at the Firth Hall in Sheffield.  This event also marks the 75th anniversary of the local CPRE branch. Sir Chris will also be signing copies of his new book about his latest expedition to Tibet.

On 2 July Sir Chris will spend the day with the National Park Authority, addressing members of the Park Authority at their meeting in Bakewell in the morning.  Sir Chris will then be shown an area of countryside, where the reality of putting into practice the Government's proposals for open access will be discussed. In the afternoon he will visit Longstone Edge, an area which is currently under threat from further quarrying.

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Ruth Chambers, Head of Policy on
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