'Areas of great natural beauty giving opportunity for open-air recreation, established so that natural beauty can be preserved and enhanced, and so that the enjoyment of the scenery by the public can be promoted.' Act of Parliament 1949
The first was the Peak District, Derbyshire, in 1951. National Parks can be uplands like Snowdonia and the Lake District, but can also be lowlands like the Norfolk Broads and coastal like Pembrokeshire. Many efforts in post-war period to improve quality of life.
Who Owns the National Parks?
81% of land is owned privately, mainly by farmers.
6% Forestry Commision
5% National Trust
3% Water Authorities
3% Ministry of Defence
1% County Councils
1% National Parks
Many people live and work within National Parks!
How Much Land do National Parks Cover?
7% of England (10 parks)
7.3% of Scotland (2 parks)
23% of Wales (3 parks)
Globally there are anout 6000 National Parks (12% of land)