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Yorkshire dales and Lake District to be extended Yorkshire dales and Lake District to be extended
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Two of England’s most renowned national parks are to be extended to create a vast area of almost continuous protected land, the government has said. Two of England’s most celebrated national parks, the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District, are being extended, the government has announced.
The Yorkshire dales will be increased by almost 24% and the Lake District by 3%, almost joining up the two to form the largest area of national park land stretching across Yorkshire, Cumbria and Lancashire. The Yorkshire Dales national park will expand by almost 24% and the Lake District national park by 3%, creating a large and almost continuous protected area in north-west England.
It is hoped the move will increase tourism, support rural businesses and add to the £4bn a year generated by visitors to national parks. The additional 188 square miles (48,7oo hectares) of national park land will include parts of the Orton fells, the northern Howgill fells, Wild Boar fell and Mallerstang, as well as Barbon, Middleton, Casterton and Leck fells in the Yorkshire Dales. In the Lake District, newly protected areas include from Birkbeck fells common to Whinfell common and an area from Helsington Barrows to Sizergh fell.
Announcing the extension, the environment secretary, Elizabeth Truss, said it would protect more space for subsequent generations, adding: “The dales and the Lakes have some of our country’s finest landscapes, beautiful vistas and exciting wildlife. They are part of our national identity. The extensions come into effect from August 2016. They follow a public enquiry and are in line with recommendations made by the government’s advisors at Natural England. Campaigners had been frustrated that it had taken the government two years to make a decision on the Planning Inspector’s report.
“National parks are fabulous national assets that welcome over 90 million tourists and contribute to our vibrant rural economy – we are committed to helping them thrive.” Environment secretary Liz Truss made the announcement during a visit to Wensleydale Creamery, based in the Yorkshire Dales national park and home of the protected Yorkshire Wensleydale cheese. She said the extensions would protect the land for future generations as well as boosting tourism and supporting rural businesses.
The long-awaited decision means an additional 188 sq miles (48,7oo hectares) of land across Cumbria, and a small part of Lancashire, will become protected areas. “The Dales and the Lakes have some of our country’s finest landscapes, beautiful vistas and exciting wildlife. They are part of our national identity,” she said. “National parks are fabulous national assets that welcome over 90 million tourists and contribute to our vibrant rural economy – we are committed to helping them thrive.”
The Lake District will be extended to the south to include an area from Helsington Barrows to Sizergh fell, as well as an area north of Sizergh Castle and part of the Lyth valley, and east from Birkbeck fells common to Whinfell common that will take the national park up to the M6.
On the other side of the motorway, the Yorkshire dales will be significantly extended to include part of the Orton fells, the northern Howgill fells, Wild Boar fell and Mallerstang.
Further south, the dales will be extended west to include Barbon, Middleton, Casterton and Leck fells, the river Lune and part of Firbank fell and other fells west of the Lune. The extension areas will come into effect next August.
The announcement marks the end of a two-year wait for a government decision on the planning inspector’s report, which was submitted in October 2013 to the environment secretary after a public inquiry.
Andrew Sells, who chairs Natural England, said the national parks represented some of England’s most treasured natural assets. “With international appeal, their stunning landscapes stand out as a beacon to the people who come to enjoy them, whilst their intrinsic value drives the communities, businesses and biodiversity they support. Extending these today confirms their great importance and provides them with the recognition they richly deserve.”
Fiona Howie, chief executive of the Campaign for National Parks, said: “This is absolutely fantastic news. Very simply, these are beautiful, inspiring and important areas of the countryside that always deserved to be part of our national parks. They were originally excluded because of administrative reasons but now, after years of hard work by a lot of people, this is now going to be put right.”Fiona Howie, chief executive of the Campaign for National Parks, said: “This is absolutely fantastic news. Very simply, these are beautiful, inspiring and important areas of the countryside that always deserved to be part of our national parks. They were originally excluded because of administrative reasons but now, after years of hard work by a lot of people, this is now going to be put right.”
Howie said proposed extension areas for the Lake District national park had been accepted in their entirety, and there were only two minor areas not accepted in the Yorkshire Dales park.
Emma Marrington, at the Campaign to Protect Rural England also welcomed the news. “This extension form[s] a ‘bridge’ that includes iconic landscapes such as the Orton and Howgill fells in Yorkshire and large tracts of common land in Cumbria. This announcement has been a long time coming.”
She said: “Only our finest landscapes are granted national park status. National parks enjoy the highest level of planning protection and are exemplars of sustainable development. The challenge now is to ensure that the two national park authorities have the resources they need to protect and enhance these landscapes in the long-term.”
Natural England chairman, Andrew Sells, said: “They represent some of England’s most treasured natural assets. With international appeal, their stunning landscapes stand out as a beacon to the people who come to enjoy them whilst their intrinsic value drives the communities, businesses and biodiversity they support.”