{"id":33812,"date":"2023-11-29T13:38:21","date_gmt":"2023-11-29T12:38:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/583aa633-abaf-4413-9859-bfd751f66acf"},"modified":"2023-11-29T14:35:42","modified_gmt":"2023-11-29T13:35:42","slug":"search-underway-for-a-new-national-park-in-england","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcwildlife\/rss_feed\/search-underway-for-a-new-national-park-in-england\/","title":{"rendered":"Search underway for a new national park in England"},"content":{"rendered":"

Possible locations for England’s new national park include the Chiltern Hills, the Cotswolds and Dorset. <\/p>

By BBC Wildlife Magazine\n <\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 29 November 2023 at 12:38 PM<\/p>

\n\n

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.<\/p>

The Chiltern Hills, the Cotswolds<\/a> and Dorset<\/a> are all possible sites for the new national park.<\/p>

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\u00a0more children get outdoors.<\/p>

Today’s announcement is the beginning of a process that could take five years to complete.<\/p>

COP28: what to expect from this year’s conference<\/a><\/li>
What are national parks and what do they protect?<\/a><\/li><\/ul>
The Chiltern Hills is one of several sites being considered for the new national park\/Credit: Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>
“Nature is at the foundation of food production, water security, and\u00a0is critical to our economy,\u00a0and our\u00a0mental and physical health,” said Environment Secretary Steve Barclay.<\/p>
“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.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>
“Through our Environmental Improvement Plan<\/a> and today\u2019s announcement, we are creating more opportunities for people to access nature, spend time outdoors and enjoy our beautiful countryside \u2013 as well as supporting wildlife. A healthy natural environment is critical for our wellbeing, our economy and combatting climate change.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who heads to COP28<\/a> this week, said:<\/p>
“From Yorkshire\u2019s 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.\u00a0<\/p>
“As I head to COP28, we are reasserting the UK\u2019s leading role in promoting our iconic landscapes and keeping nature at the centre of our action to tackle climate change.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>
$\"Drone$
The most recent national park to be created in England was the South Downs in 2010\/Credit: Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>
The package, which includes \u00a315m of funding across 200,000 hectares of land, has been cautiously welcomed by some environmentalists.<\/p>
\u201cGovernment\u2019s decision to protect more of the nation\u2019s landscapes is a welcome one,” said John Watkins, Chief Executive of the National Landscapes Association<\/a>.<\/p>
“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.”<\/p>
“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 \u2013 futureproofing the places that will futureproof our nation\u2019s livelihood for generations to come.\u201d<\/p>
The search for\u00a0a new national park will begin in the new year.<\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n
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