Discussing National Park Governance with the Minister for Nature

Published: 10 June 2026

We held an event in Westminster this week to discuss our recent report on National Park Authority (NPA) governance with Mary Creagh, the Minister for Nature. The roundtable discussion was chaired by Mary-Ann Ochata, Chair of the Protected Landscapes Partnership, and included a wide variety of other organisations and individuals who share our ambition to modernise the current system of governance and unlock the full potential of National Parks.  

It was an important opportunity to get the Minister’s feedback on the recommendations in ‘Leading National Parks into the Future: Modernising National Park Authority Governance’ and to emphasis why these improvements are so urgently needed. 

Quick wins 

The changes we are calling for include some which could be implemented quickly including clearer direction from Government about their expectations for Board members; continued improvements to the recruitment process, induction and training; greater use of online and hybrid meetings to make attendance at meetings easier; and the introduction of a standard approach to member allowances and time commitments. 

Using legislation to optimise the current model 

However, there are also many significant improvements that can only be delivered through legislation including changes to the way in which Board members are appointed. Our proposals would ensure that all members are appointed on merit while also enabling a greater range of people to apply, and strengthening the balance of local and national knowledge which is so vitally important in decision-making about National Parks. In particular we are recommending an increase in the proportion of openly recruited members through the introduction of a new model where  

• One third are recruited on the basis of having relevant local experience.  

• One third are recruited on the basis of having relevant national experience.  

• One-third are appointed by constituent local authorities taking account of the need for political balance, and a geographical spread as well as relevant expertise. 

Other legislative changes we are calling for include: 

• A reduction in the size of the Boards to a maximum of 12–15 members.  

• Ensuring NPAs have a clear role in the decision-making of Strategic Authorities thus strengthening the links between local government and National Park Authorities. 

• Strengthening the statutory purposes by placing a much stronger emphasis on nature recovery, climate action and equitable and inclusive access. 

• The introduction of fixed terms for all members. 

• Making it easier to co-opt members. 

• Reducing unnecessary bureaucratic burdens by reducing auditing requirements. 

• Giving a nature and future generations a seat on the Board. 

Both/and not either/or  

The Minister also heard from some of our Campaign for National Parks Ambassadors who have recently been appointed as Board Members. It was clear from what they said that although there has been a lot of progress in recent years in encouraging a greater range of people to apply to join NPAs, there is still a lot more that could be done to ensure all new Members get the support they need after joining. 

There was strong endorsement for our recommendations from others in the room, including Beccy Speight, RSPB CEO who stressed the need for legislative change to strengthen both governance and National Park purposes, and Sarah Mukherjee, a member of the Glover Designated Landscapes Review Panel, who said that reducing the size of Boards should be a priority.   

In her response, the Minister promised to deliver some of the quick wins we’re calling for and proposed sending an annual letter to NPAs with clearer guidance on their priorities. She also confirmed her commitment to securing improvements to the current system of governance, but was unable to give us any reassurances about when the necessary legislation might come forward. 

Summing up at the end of the event, Mary-Ann stressed the urgency of the need for change and emphasised that it is very much a case of both the quick wins and the legislative changes being needed not either/or.  

What next? 

While there was much that was very positive in the Minister’s response to our report, the continued wait for any progress on legislation is disappointing. At Campaign for National Parks, we will be continuing to focus on securing the legislative changes needed to deliver our ambitions for National Parks. Please join us if you’d like help support this work.