Libby Purves to Champion Council for National Parks

29th February 2000

The mountaineer, Sir Chris Bonington ⁽¹⁾, will hand over the role of President of the Council for National Parks (CNP) ⁽²⁾ to Libby Purves, broadcaster and writer, at an event at the Dome on Tuesday 7th March. Sir Chris has been President of CNP for the past seven years and has been a tireless campaigner to protect our National Parks ⁽³⁾ and to promote their enjoyment for everyone.

Libby Purves ⁽⁴⁾ will now take over the role of President of the Council for National Parks for a three year term and will champion National Park causes. Securing National Park designation for the South Downs and the New Forest will be a top priority.

Libby said "I am pleased to be able to continue to publicise the work of the Council for National Parks. We have to look after precious places; on a small, crowded, rapidly changing island they are inevitably under constant pressure from many directions. But they belong to us all, and our descendants: we have to ensure their future by ensuring that a wide cross- section of society understands them by enjoying them".
 

Notes to editors

1.  Sir Chris Bonington has been President of the Council for National Parks for seven years. During this time the biggest parliamentary achievement was the incorporation of the all party supported updated National Park legislation into the 1995 Environment Act. This was the first comprehensive piece of legislation on National Parks enacted since 1949. This political work was recognised by a BBC Wildlife Magazine Green Ribbon Award for the best political campaign by an environmental organisation. As well as being CNP President for seven years, Sir Chris has worked with the Corporate Forum for National Parks as Chair and will continue in this role. In partnership with the Corporate Forum in 1996, CNP published two influential reports on sustainable development, as part of the National Parks for Life project. Jonathan Porritt called the project "one of the most significant developments since the Rio Earth Summit".
2.  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.
3.  There are eleven National Parks in England and Wales. The ten original National Parks were set up under the 1949 National Park and Access to the Countryside Act, with the Broads following later in 1989 with its own Act of Parliament.
4.  Libby Purves is the presenter for Radio 4’s Midweek programme, a bestselling novelist with a strong interest in countryside matters and coastal matters, and a major columnist for The Times.

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