The quest for a new national park in England begins as Government sets out an ambitious "nature package", announced today (29 November) by Environment Secretary Steve Barclay.
The Chiltern Hills, the Cotswolds and Dorset are all possible sites for the new national park.
Offering people greater access to the British countryside and tackling climate change are at the heart of the new package, which includes 34 new landscape recovery projects, the creation of new forests and funding to help more children get outdoors.
Today's announcement is the beginning of a process that could take five years to complete.
"Nature is at the foundation of food production, water security, and is critical to our economy, and our mental and physical health," said Environment Secretary Steve Barclay.
"It is why it is so important to deliver on our commitment to halt the decline of nature and safeguard at least 30 percent of our extraordinary landscapes.
"Through our Environmental Improvement Plan and today’s announcement, we are creating more opportunities for people to access nature, spend time outdoors and enjoy our beautiful countryside – as well as supporting wildlife. A healthy natural environment is critical for our wellbeing, our economy and combatting climate change.”
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who heads to COP28 this week, said:
"From Yorkshire’s historic rolling moors to ancient rainforest on the Cornish coast, we are home to many globally significant landscapes. We must do all it takes to protect these much-loved spaces and ensure that love for the natural world continues into the next generations.
"As I head to COP28, we are reasserting the UK’s leading role in promoting our iconic landscapes and keeping nature at the centre of our action to tackle climate change.”
The package, which includes £15m of funding across 200,000 hectares of land, has been cautiously welcomed by some environmentalists.
“Government’s decision to protect more of the nation’s landscapes is a welcome one," said John Watkins, Chief Executive of the National Landscapes Association.
"As the environmental challenges facing us continue to grow, work to protect and regenerate the nation's landscapes will become increasingly important. The search for a new national park will only help this cause if it results in a net increase in the land protected for the nation."
"Substituting a National Landscape for a National Park will tie up resources for years in a designation process with no boost to delivery. I urge Government to increase investment to all protected places for the long-term – futureproofing the places that will futureproof our nation’s livelihood for generations to come.”
The search for a new national park will begin in the new year.