The English countryside is gearing up for the creation of a new national park, a significant step within the government's broader initiative aiming to enhance accessibility to and preservation of

natural landscapes. With a commitment of £15 million in funding, Dartmoor National Park and nine others are in line to receive support.

Natural England is poised to explore potential locations for this new park, possibly encompassing areas like the Chilterns, the Cotswolds, and Dorset. While this announcement was met with some enthusiasm from environmentalists, concerns linger over the decline in real-term funding for national parks, leading to reductions in services and personnel.

A portion of the £15 million funding will be allocated to various protected landscapes, benefiting England's existing ten national parks and 34 National Landscapes, formerly known as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This initiative is part of the government's response to a 2019 review criticizing the management and funding of protected landscapes.

Julian Glover, author of the Landscapes Review, expressed excitement over the progress and additional funding, emphasizing the need for increased support to nurture these vital natural spaces. Conversely, voices like Dr. Rose O'Neill from the Campaign for National Parks highlighted the financial strain experienced by existing parks, citing a significant decline in funding since 2010.

Kevin Bishop, Dartmoor National Park's chief executive, cautiously welcomed the news of a new national park while stressing the importance of supplemental funding rather than diverting resources from existing parks. He emphasized the necessity of financial support for day-to-day operations to ensure effective management and implementation of conservation projects.

The establishment of a new national park aligns with a Conservative manifesto pledge, coinciding with the upcoming 75th anniversary of the parliamentary act that enabled their creation. The last national park established in England was the South Downs in 2010. Similar aspirations are underway in Wales and Scotland to develop new national parks.

Steve Barclay, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs, highlighted the significance of national parks in the country's heritage and announced a competition for the new park's selection. He affirmed the government's commitment to inject an additional £15 million into preserving and rejuvenating these remarkable landscapes.

The government plans to release £10 million next year and an initial £5 million this financial year for national park authorities to bid on projects aiming to enhance water bodies' quality. Additionally, landscape recovery projects under the ELMs farm payments scheme will manage 200,000 hectares of land for nature and sustainable food production.

Furthermore, funds are earmarked to facilitate disadvantaged youth's access to the countryside and research into safeguarding England's temperate rainforests. Criticism from Labour's Shadow Environment Secretary, Steve Reed, highlighted the nation's dwindling natural biodiversity, attributing it to the policies under the Conservative government. Photo by Lewis Clarke, Wikimedia c commons.