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Authority welcomes Government announcement on National Parks



Authority welcomes Government announcement on National Parks

June 24, 2021

The South Downs National Park Authority welcomes the Government’s plans for the future of the UK’s National Parks and other protected landscapes.

Trevor Beattie, Chief Executive of the Authority, said: “It is good news that the Government is acknowledging the importance of our national landscapes to deliver for people, places, nature and climate.  

“The first 10 years of the South Downs National Park has underlined the priceless value of this world-class landscape to make more space for nature and we welcome the creation of new sources of funding to support nature in our protected landscapes and the commitment to create more National Nature Reserves.

“The pandemic has shown that National Parks are needed now more than ever and the South Downs National Park provides a vital “green health service” in the heart of the busy South East. It is a wonderful place to visit and enjoy world-class landscapes, wildlife and cultural heritage, and home to thriving local communities.

“As a landscape that is 75% farmed and where we work in close partnership with our farmers and land managers, we welcome the Farming in Protected Landscape commitment and stand ready to support our farmers to deliver.

“Each unique National Park has a key role to play in delivering landscape-led planning and meeting our national commitments to tackle climate change and transform lives through access to nature for all. We welcome greater opportunities to achieve all this through wider collaboration with the protected landscape family.

“We look forward to working with Defra to help them shape their full response to the Glover Landscapes Review and to deliver its ambitions for nature recovery, access for all, education and national health and wellbeing.  All of this will be achieved through the seamless co-operation between national and local level that Glover advocated.”