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Inspiration – for everyone

World-class landscapes with the power to inspire everyone, they’ve been designated on behalf of the entire nation because of their special qualities.

Stunning natural beauty, beautiful wildlife and fascinating cultural heritage make these living and working landscapes truly unique.

One big family

There are 15 National Parks in the UK and each one has been designated as a protected landscape because of its special qualities.

Each National Park is different and remarkable in its own way, but all work together as part of a big family.

Here are five simple facts to put you in the picture!

There are 10 National Parks in England, three in Wales and two in Scotland, they are:

  • England –  Broads, Dartmoor, Exmoor, Lake District, New Forest, Northumberland, North York Moors, Peak District, South Downs and Yorkshire Dales.
  • Wales – Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons), Pembrokeshire Coast, and Eryri (Snowdonia).
  • Scotland – Cairngorms and Loch Lomond & The Trossachs.

Each National Park is administered by its own authority, but that authority does not own all of the land in the Park.

The 15 National Parks have thousands of kilometres of public rights of way over 1,300km of which is designated as suitable for those of us with accessibility issues  – giving people incredible opportunities to explore these amazing spaces.

The UK’s National Parks are oases for wildlife – hosting over 330 conservation projects in 2019/20. We work together as National Parks UK – working in unison for the benefit of nature and people.

Find out where National Parks began

Did you know?

113,000 National Parks and similarly protected areas cover approximately 6% of the Earth's land surface – that's about 149 million square kilometres!

Not ours – but ours to look after

Conservation, enhancement, sustainability, enjoyment – four words that sit at the heart of all National Parks.

Funded by central government, National Parks have specific purposes that are enshrined in law.

In England and Wales they are:

  • Conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage.
  • Promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of national parks by the public.

In carrying out these purposes, National Park Authorities are also required to seek to foster the economic and social well-being of local communities in the National Park.

In the case of the Broads there is an additional purpose, namely protecting the interests of navigation, and all three purposes are given equal priority.

For the Scottish Parks there are four aims:

  • To conserve and enhance the natural and cultural heritage of the area.
  • To promote sustainable use of the natural resources of the area.
  • To promote understanding and enjoyment (including enjoyment in the form of recreation) of the special qualities of the area by the public.
  • To promote sustainable economic and social development of the area’s communities.

With the exception of the Broads National Park, if there’s a conflict between a park’s purposes, greater weight has to be given to the first purpose.

Discover more

Special Qualities , Find out more

Discover the Special Qualities of National Parks and why they are the UKs most inspiring landscapes.

Green recovery , Find out more

Find out about Green Recovery across UK National Parks.

A week on from National Parks UK’s Big Volunteer Weekend, we’re still celebrating the people who make a difference across our National Parks.

Last weekend, hundreds of people came together across all 15 National Parks to give their time, share their skills and support our landscapes.

But volunteering in our National Parks doesn’t happen just one weekend a year. All year round, volunteers play an incredible variety of roles – from leading guided walks and supporting education, to conservation, planting and caring for our landscapes.

Every volunteer makes a valuable contribution to protecting our natural and cultural heritage. We simply couldn’t do what we do without you. 💚

So, to all our volunteers: thank you for your time, energy, enthusiasm and everything you bring to our National Parks.
If you know someone who volunteers in a National Park, help us spread the thanks by sharing this post. 🌿

#Volunteers #NationalParks #NationalParksUK
It’s the Autumn Equinox 🍂

Our National Parks are always changing in time with the rhythm of nature, but this becomes particularly noticeable when autumn arrives.

Deer begin to rut, spiders’ cobwebs glisten in the fresh light, fungi become more prominent, and leaves begin to change colour.

What changes have you noticed so far? 🧡

#Autumn #AutumnEquinox #NationalParks
Autumn brings some unusual visitors to the @newforestnpa 🐷🍂

As the leaves turn and acorns begin to carpet the Forest floor, you might spot a few more snouts among the trees.

Each autumn, New Forest Commoners exercise an ancient right known as pannage – turning their pigs out to forage for fallen acorns, beech mast and other natural foods that might be harmful to other grazing animals.

It’s a tradition that has been part of life in the New Forest for many years. Just like many of our Parks, it shows how these landscapes are shaped by history and the unique ways of working that protect the environment. 

📸This beautiful photograph was captured by @hang_ross76. 

#NewForestPigs #Autumn #NewForest
🍂 Autumn is creeping in, and the nights are slowly drawing in around us. But darkness isn’t just something we notice. For countless bugs, it’s essential.

Two-thirds of invertebrates are partially or wholly nocturnal, relying on the natural rhythm of night and day to feed, move, reproduce and survive. Yet increasing light pollution is disrupting this vital nighttime world. 🐜

September is an active time for bugs - spiders seek shelter, wasp colonies reach their peak size, and many are migrating or laying overwintering eggs. 

Our National Parks are home to some of the UK’s darkest skies and important habitats where we can protect the darkness that bugs depend on. 

Together, we can help even the smallest of species to thrive.

Clips via @buglife_ict 
1 & 2: Moth © Patrick Chadwick
3: Running Crab Spider © Patrick Chadwick
4: Millipede © Patrick Chadwick
5: Common glow-worm (Lampyris noctiluca) © Kristian Pikner
6 & 7: Ringlet butterfly roosting © Patrick Chadwick
8: Wasp © Patrick Chadwick

#BugLife #DarkSkies #NationalParks