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The '''national parks of England and Wales''' are areas of relatively undeveloped and scenic landscape that are designated under the ] (save for the Broads which was set up under the ]). Despite their similar name, national parks in ] are quite different from ]s in many other countries, which are usually owned and managed by the government as a protected community resource, and which do not usually include permanent human communities. In ] and ], designation as a national park may include substantial settlements and human land uses which are often integral parts of the landscape, and land within a national park remains largely in private ownership.
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There are currently thirteen national parks ({{lang-cy|parciau cenedlaethol}}) in England and Wales. Each park is operated by its own ], with two "statutory purposes":
}}
# to conserve and enhance the natural beauty, ] and cultural heritage of the area, and
# to promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the park's special qualities by the public.

The Broads differs from the other twelve in having a third purpose which carries equal weight; that of ‘protecting the interests of navigation’.

When national parks carry out these purposes they also have the duty to:
# seek to foster the economic and social well-being of local communities within the national parks.

An estimated 110 million people visit the national parks of England and Wales each year. Recreation and tourism bring visitors and funds into the parks, to sustain their ] efforts and support the local population through jobs and businesses. These visitors also bring problems, such as ] and ], and conflicts over the use of the parks' resources. Access to cultivated land is restricted to ] and ], with most (but not all) uncultivated areas in England and Wales having right of access for walking under the ].

==Origins==
], looking from the highest point of ] (886 m/2907 feet) to Cribyn (795 m/2608 feet).]]
]
] evidence from ] shows that the areas now designated as national parks have been occupied by humans since the ], at least 5,000 years ago and in some cases much earlier.

Before the 19th century, relatively wild, remote areas were often seen simply as uncivilised and dangerous. In 1725 ] described the ] as "the most desolate, wild and abandoned country in all England".<ref>Defoe, Daniel. ''A Tour Thro' the Whole Island of Great Britain, Divided into Circuits or {{sic|hide=y|Journies}}.'' (1724–26) "There is indeed an extended angle of this county, which runs a great way north west by Chappel in the Frith, and which they call High Peak. This, perhaps, is the most desolate, wild, and abandoned country in all England; The mountains of the Peak, of which I have been speaking, seem to be but the beginning of wonders to this part of the country, and but the beginning of mountains, or, if you will, as the lower rounds of a ladder. The tops of these hills seem to be as much above the clouds, as the clouds are above the ordinary range of hills."</ref> However, by the early 19th century, ] such as ], ] and ] wrote about the inspirational beauty of the "untamed" countryside.<ref name="natparks">{{cite web|url=http://www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/filex_01.pdf |title=Our National Parks - Filex 1 |accessdate=3 December 2007 |format=PDF |work=Exmoor National Park |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080228002224/http://www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/filex_01.pdf |archivedate=28 February 2008 }}</ref> Wordsworth described the ] as a "sort of national property in which every man has a right and interest who has an eye to perceive and a heart to enjoy" in 1810. This early vision, based in the ] movement, took over a century, and much controversy, to take legal form in the UK with the ].

The idea for a form of national parks was first proposed in the ] in the 1860s, where ]s were established to protect ] areas such as ]. This model has been used in many other countries since, but not in the United Kingdom.

After thousands of years of human integration into the landscape, Britain lacks any substantial areas of wilderness. Furthermore, those areas of natural beauty so cherished by the romantic poets were often only maintained and managed in their existing state by human activity, usually agriculture.<ref>{{cite news |last1=McCarthy |first1=Michael |title=Can the threat to the UK’s only true wilderness be seen off? |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/nature-studies-can-the-threat-to-the-uk-s-only-true-wilderness-be-seen-off-10111842.html |accessdate=30 December 2019 |agency=The Independent |issue=Nature Studies |date=16 March 2015 |location=London |language=English |quote="In Britain, we have paid little heed to the concept of wilderness, partly because in the southern half of the country, at any rate, we have little of it: even the natural parks we eventually established, such as the Lake District or the Peak District, cover landscapes which may be mountainous, but are essentially farmed."}}</ref>

===Government support is established===
By the early 1930s, increasing public interest in the countryside, coupled with the growing and newly mobile urban population, was generating increasing friction between those seeking access to the countryside and landowners. Alongside of direct action trespasses, such as the ], several voluntary bodies took up the cause of public access in the political arena.

In 1931, ] (later Lord Addison) chaired a government committee that proposed a 'National Park Authority' to choose areas for designation as national parks.<ref name="UKNPhistory"/> A system of national reserves and nature sanctuaries was proposed:

:"(i) to safeguard areas of exceptional natural interest against (a) disorderly development and (b) spoliation; (ii) to improve the means of access for pedestrians to areas of natural beauty; and (iii) to promote measures for the protection of ] and ]."

However, no further action was taken after the intervention of the ].

The voluntary Standing Committee on National Parks first met on 26 May 1936 to put the case to the government for national parks in the UK. After World War II, the ] proposed the establishment of national parks as part of the post-war reconstruction of the UK. A report by ], secretary of the Standing Committee on National Parks,<ref name="FAQS">{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalparks.gov.uk/learningabout/faqs.htm |title=Frequently Asked Questions |accessdate=5 December 2007 |work=National Parks |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070915022355/http://www.nationalparks.gov.uk/learningabout/faqs.htm |archivedate=15 September 2007 }}</ref> to the Minister of Town and Country Planning in 1945 was followed in 1947 by a Government committee, this time chaired by Sir ], which prepared legislation for national parks, and proposed twelve national parks. Sir Arthur had this to say on the criteria for designating suitable areas:

<blockquote>The essential requirements of a National Park are that it should have great natural beauty, a high value for open-air recreation and substantial continuous extent. Further, the distribution of selected areas should as far as practicable be such that at least one of them is quickly accessible from each of the main centres of population in ]. Lastly there is merit in variety and with the wide diversity of landscape which is available in England and Wales, it would be wrong to confine the selection of National Parks to the more rugged areas of mountain and moorland, and to exclude other districts which, though of less outstanding grandeur and wildness, have their own distinctive beauty and a high recreational value.</blockquote>

===National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949===
] crosses ]]]

The ] was passed with all party support. The first ten national parks were designated as such in the 1950s under the Act in mostly poor-quality agricultural ]. Much of the land was still owned by individual landowners, often private estates, but there was also property owned by public bodies such as ], or charities which allow and encourage access such as the ]. Accessibility from the ] was also considered important.

Other areas were also considered: for example, parts of the coast of ] were considered as a possible national park in the 1950s but were thought to be too disparate to form a single coherent national park and were eventually designated as an ] (AONB) instead. The north ] were also considered for designation as a national park in the 1970s but the proposal was thought to be administratively too difficult because the area was administered by five different ]s.

===Later additions===
] in ] are not in the strictest sense a national park, being run by a separately constituted Broads Authority set up by a special ] in 1988<ref name="UKNPhistory"/> and with a structure in which conservation is subordinate to navigational concerns (see ] below), but it is generally regarded as being "equivalent to" a national park.{{citation needed|date=March 2016}}

The ], which includes the largest remaining tracts of unenclosed pasture land, ] and old-growth ] in the heavily populated ] of the country was designated as a national park on 1 March 2005.<ref name="NFfaq">{{cite web|url=http://www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/index/aboutus/frequently_asked_questions/faq-designation.htm|title=Frequently Asked Questions|publisher=New Forest National Park|accessdate=17 December 2007|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080905082742/http://www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/index/aboutus/frequently_asked_questions/faq-designation.htm|archivedate=5 September 2008|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

On 31 March 2009, ] ] announced that the ] would be designated a national park. The ] came into effect on 31 March 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.southdowns.gov.uk/|title=South Downs Park website|accessdate=13 April 2010}}</ref>

==Organisation==
Following the ], each national park has been managed by its own ] since April 1997.<ref name="UKNPhistory">{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalparks.gov.uk/learningabout/history.htm |title=History of the National Parks |publisher=National Parks: Britain's Breathing Space |accessdate=16 December 2007 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071010064743/http://www.nationalparks.gov.uk/learningabout/history.htm |archivedate=10 October 2007 }}</ref> Previously, all but the ] and the ] were governed by the local ]s. The ] and the ], the first two national parks to be designated, were under the control of planning boards that were independent of the local county councils.

Each authority is required to carry out two "statutory purposes":<ref name="natparks"/>
# to conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the area; and
# to promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the parks' special qualities by the public.
These purposes can conflict: in such cases, under the "]", conservation comes first. This principle was given ] force by section 62 of the ], although there are no explicit provisions as to how wildlife is to be preserved. In pursuing these purposes, national park authorities also have a duty to foster the social and economic well-being of their local communities.

Slightly over half the members of each national park authority are appointees from the principal local authorities covered by the park; the remainder are appointed by the ] (in England) or the ] (in Wales), some to represent local ] or ] councils, others selected to represent the "national interest".<ref name="natparks"/> The Broads Authority also has members appointed by ], ] Port Authority and the ]. The national park authorities and the Broads Authority are covered by similar regulatory controls to those applied to local councils.

Funding for national parks is complex, but the full cost of each park authority is funded from central government funds. In the past this was partly paid for by local authorities, and refunded to them from the government to varying degrees. In 2003/2004, the park authorities received around £35.5 million of central government funding.<!-- needs updating -->

] is the statutory body responsible for designating new national parks in England, subject to approval by the Secretary of State; ] designates new national parks in Wales, subject to approval by the Welsh Ministers. The ] exists to provide the park authorities with a single voice when dealing with government and its agencies. The ] (formerly Council for National Parks) is a charity that works to protect and enhance the national parks of England and Wales.

==Development and land use planning in national parks==
National park authorities are the strategic and local planning authorities for their areas, so that the local district or unitary councils do not exercise planning control in an area covered by a national park. Consequently, they have to perform all the duties of a ].

They are responsible for maintaining the ] &mdash; the ] guide for their area. They also grant planning consent for development, within the constraints of the Framework. This gives them very strong direct control over residential and industrial development, and the design of buildings and other structures; as well as strategic matters such as mineral extraction.

The national park authorities' planning powers vary only slightly from other authorities, but the policies and their interpretation are stricter than elsewhere. This is supported and encouraged by the government who regard:
:"National Park designation as conferring the highest status of protection as far as landscape and scenic beauty are concerned." The Countryside &mdash; Environmental Quality and Economic and Social Development (1997)<!-- needs full biblio ref -->

==Contribution to the local economy==
Tourism is an important part of the economy of the regions which contain national parks. Through attractions, shops and accommodation, visitors provide an income and a livelihood to local employers and farmers. This income provides jobs for the park. For example, within the Peak District National Park the estimate in 2004 for visitor spending is £185 million, which supports over 3,400 jobs, representing 27% of total employment in the national park.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/tourism.pdf|title=Tourism in the Peak District National Park: fact sheet 2|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080530101439/http://www.peakdistrict.gov.uk/tourism.pdf|archivedate=30 May 2008|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

==Conflicts in national parks==
The national park authorities have two roles: to conserve and enhance the park, and to promote its use by visitors. These two objectives cause frequent conflicts between the needs of different groups of people. It is estimated that the national parks of England and Wales receive 110 million visitors each year. Most of the time it is possible to achieve both the original two purposes by good management. Occasionally a situation arises where access for the public is in direct conflict with conservation. Following the ethos of the ], the ] sets down how a priority may be established between conservation and recreational use. Similar provision has been made for Scottish national parks.

Although recreation and tourism brings many benefits to an area, it also brings a number of problems. The national funding offered to national park authorities is partly in recognition of the extra difficulties created in dealing with these conflicts.
; '''Congestion of villages and beauty spots''' : Some of the most popular "]" areas attract large numbers of visitors, resulting in overcrowded ]s, blocked roads, and overstretched local facilities, particularly on Sundays in the summer and on ]s. Examples include the areas near ] in the Lake District and ] and ] in the Peak District. Also ] in ].
; '''Erosion''' : ] and use of other public ] is an extremely popular use of all the national parks. Heavy use of the most popular paths leads to considerable erosion, but strengthening of paths can be unsightly. Particularly heavy wear is caused by sponsored walks, walks promoted by national books and magazines, by ] on unsurfaced ]s, ] and use of ]s on ]s. Examples include ] in the Peak District. ], for example, by sheep on hill and moorland areas, can also reduce vegetation, leading to increased erosion.
; '''Damage and disturbance to wildlife''' : ] may be disturbed by the level of use on some of the areas of the parks that are open to the public. ] and ] is easily damaged by regular use, and takes many years to recover. Moorland birds in particular nest and roost on the ground and are therefore especially sensitive. ], ] and ] are typical activities which are likely to cause disturbance to nesting birds.
; '''Litter''' : Litter of all kinds is both unsightly and can cause pollution and damage to livestock and wild animals. Broken glass is a danger to people and, by ]ing the rays of the sun, a possible cause of fire, particularly in areas of moorland such as ], parts of the ] and the ].
; '''Damage to farmland''' : Trampling of grass ]s reduces the amount of winter feed for farm animals. Walkers who stray from footpaths may climb over fences or ]s rather than looking out for the ]s that mark the course of footpaths across farmland. Sheep can be injured or even killed by dogs not under proper control, especially at lambing time.
; '''Local community displacement''' : Gift shops and ]s which cater for the needs of tourists are often more profitable than shops selling everyday goods for local people (such as butchers or bakers). In some villages where tourist shops are in the majority and there are few shops catering for the local people, the local community may feel pushed out by the tourists. Houses are often very expensive in tourist villages as there is demand for them as ] or ]s by ] firms or well-off people who live elsewhere, or who move to a local home from which they commute to work, making them unaffordable for local people. This is a particular problem in areas within easy commuting distance of large cities, such as the ], the ], the ], and the ] and ].
; '''Conflict between recreational users''' : Some forms of use of national parks interfere with other uses. For example, use of high-speed ]s causes ], and conflicts with other uses such as boat trips, yachting, canoeing, and swimming. A controversial ] imposing a 10&nbsp;] speed limit came into force on ] on 29 March 2005. The new speed limit for Windermere effectively prohibits ] and ] in the Lake District (of the 16 larger lakes in the ], only Windermere, ], ] and ] have a public right of ]; speed limits were imposed on the three lakes other than Windermere in the 1970s and 1980s).

== List of national parks==
{{main|List of national parks of England and Wales}}
{|
|
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | №
! scope="col" | National park
! scope="col" | Established<ref>{{Cite news |title=History of the National Parks |url=http://www.nationalparks.gov.uk/learningabout/whatisanationalpark/history.htm |accessdate=1 September 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120719195120/http://www.nationalparks.gov.uk/learningabout/whatisanationalpark/history.htm |archivedate=19 July 2012 }}</ref>
! scope="col" | km²
! scope="col" | sq&nbsp;mi
|-
| 1
| ]
| {{dts|17 April 1951}}
| {{convert|1438|km2|sqmi|disp=table}}
|-
| 2
| ]
| {{dts|9 May 1951}}
| {{convert|2362|km2|sqmi|disp=table}}
|-
| 3
| ]<br/>({{lang-cy|Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri|links=no}})
| {{dts|18 October 1951}}
| {{convert|2142|km2|sqmi|disp=table}}
|-
| 4
| ]
| {{dts|30 October 1951}}
| {{convert|956|km2|sqmi|disp=table}}
|-
| 5
| ]<br/>({{lang-cy|Arfordir Penfro|links=no}})
| {{dts|29 February 1952}}
| {{convert|620|km2|sqmi|disp=table}}
|-
| 6
| ]
| {{dts|28 November 1952}}
| {{convert|1436|km2|sqmi|disp=table}}
|-
| 7
| ]
| {{dts|16 November 1954}}
| {{convert|2178|km2|sqmi|disp=table}}
|-
| 8
| ]
| {{dts|19 October 1954}}
| {{convert|693|km2|sqmi|disp=table}}
|-
| 9
| ]
| {{dts|6 April 1956}}
| {{convert|1049|km2|sqmi|disp=table}}
|-
| 10
| ]<br/>({{lang-cy|Bannau Brycheiniog|links=no}})
| {{dts|17 April 1957}}
| {{convert|1351|km2|sqmi|disp=table}}
|-
| 11
| ]
| {{dts|1 April 1989}}
| {{convert|303|km2|sqmi|disp=table}}
|-
| 12
| ]
| {{dts|1 March 2005}}
| {{convert|580|km2|sqmi|disp=table}}
|-
| 13
| ]
| {{dts|1 April 2010}}
| {{convert|1641|km2|sqmi|disp=table}}
|- class="sortbottom"
| colspan="3" | Established total
| {{convert|16749|km2|sqmi|disp=table}}
|}
| style="width:310px;"| ] and ]; the Broads now have 'equivalent status'.]]
|-
| colspan=2 |
|}

Until 2005, some 9.3% of the area of England and Wales lay within national parks; the addition of South Downs and the New Forest has increased this proportion to 10.7%. The three Welsh national parks cover around 20% of the land area of Wales.

==See also==
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|National parks of England}}
{{commons category|National parks of Wales}}
*
*
*
*
* — ''from the ]''.

{{National parks in the UK}}
{{Europe in topic|List of national parks of|countries_only=yes}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:National parks of England and Wales}}
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