by Aila Taylor
Parks in the Dark by Aila Taylor explores the world beneath our National Parks, demonstrating that our National Parks are three dimensional: there is as much beauty beneath the ground as there is above it. In doing so, Aila hopes to increase awareness of the unique environments in our National Parks (as the underground character of each national park is very distinctive), highlight the need for cave and mine conservation, and bring these typically ‘forgotten’ places into the limelight a bit.
Thanks to National Lottery players
Aila created an informative zine to introduce the underground world of the four key National Parks (Yorkshire Dales, Peak District, Eryri and Bannau Brycheiniog), with some additional pages on things like flora and fauna and how to get into caving. In addition to facts, the zine includes comments from young people at the forefront of the caving and mine exploring scenes in the UK (such as the secretary for the British Caving Association and the chair of the Council for Northern Caving Clubs), and an extract from one of Aila’s journal entries.
Aila is a conservationist, climate activist and outdoor writer based in the Yorkshire Dales. Since founding the UK climate strikes and UK Student Climate Network in 2019, she has expanded her passion for protecting the planet to work in woodland conservation and help restore the uplands of northern England to a wilder, more biodiverse state. With degrees in literature and history, her writing focuses on the intersection between humans and nature, inspired by the mountains and caves that she loves so dearly.
“The inspiration behind my project comes from experiencing the underground spaces in our national parks first-hand, and being able to appreciate how beautiful they are. It always surprises me how many people have no idea about the natural wonders hidden underneath the ground they walk on, and I think if more people knew, the hills would be perceived in an entirely different light. I also think underground spaces are in an excellent position to support the interests of our national parks, by further demonstrating the varied history, unique habitats and impressive geology within them. As a sport, caving is also heavily dependent on access to cave entrances, and the British Caving Association has spent a lot of time and money in the past trying to defend access rights – so I think it is a sport that aligns with the interests of our national parks very well and one that deserves more attention.”
“For me, National Parks are intertwined with access rights, nature conservation, and cultural heritage. They are places where everyone can connect with these three elements, fostering a positive relationship with nature, developing outdoor education and providing solitude and peace in what can be a very busy and stressful world. One of the things I love most about our National Parks is how unique each one is – from the winding waters of the Broads, to the rolling hills of the Dales, to the rugged peaks of Eryri, every National Park has a completely distinctive feel to it. They are places where the past, present, and future come together, as they not only preserve the cultural heritage of the landscape, but also provide hope for a sustainable and biodiverse future.”
Right now we have a once in a generation opportunity to change how National Parks operate. It’s essential that future generations are part of it.
Will you help us shape the future of National Parks?
Our National Parks New Perspectives project aims to give young people from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to influence and connect with decision makers to change the narratives on who National Parks are for and who has a say in their future.
As part of our New Perspectives project we have offered grants to young people to share their stories of National Parks
Thanks to funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund we provided storytelling grants, Future Leader Courses and opportunities for young people to join us as Ambassadors
