We need to look after Mother Nature
On the 70th anniversary of our National Parks, Caroline Quentin explains why they’re so important
Caroline Quentin discusses the importance of national parks
I’ve just got back from a wonderful day out. I live in Devon, not far from Exmoor National Park, so I’m lucky enough to have one of the loveliest landscapes in Britain on my doorstep.
I’ve spent today striding across the moorland, gazing at far-reaching views, watching butterflies and spotting wildflowers nestling in the crevasses of rocky outcrops. I’ve surprised, and been surprised by, a herd of wild ponies – we were all skittish and excitable! I’ve marvelled at a magnificent kestrel circling high above me, scouring the land below for its rodenty lunch. The sublime song of the skylark has been the backing track to this exceptional day. Okay, so it rained a little and I trod in a pile of horse poo, but the sun came out and the breeze was warm and I feel so much better for having been out in the glorious countryside.
I’m president of the Campaign for National Parks, and this year is an important milestone in the history of the parks. Seventy years ago, the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 was finally passed, thanks to the tireless efforts of women
and men who marched, campaigned, lobbied and even trespassed en masse to highlight the need for public access to places of wild beauty.
In 1949, Britain was still recovering from the ravages of the Second World War. The nation needed to heal, and what better place to start than with access to these remarkable places of peace, fresh air and the wonders Of nature? The first National Park was established in the Peak District in
1951, followed swiftly by the Lake District, giving their wildlife, landscapes and cultural heritage legal protection. There are now 13 National Parks in England and Wales and, along with the beautiful Scottish parks, their diversity is mind-blowing – from the dramatic austerity of Loch Lomond & The Trossachs to the rugged wilds of Dartmoor, or the stunning Pembrokeshire Coast to the sedate timelessness of the Broads in Norfolk and Suffolk. Despite their protected status, our parks still face dire threats: climate change, traffic congestion, pollution and the loss of delicately balanced natural habitats. Modern life can be tough: the pressures of work or lack of work, fewer sports facilities for
our children and grandchildren, and the increase in poor mental health in young and old alike. Air pollution is a growing concern, and both lung health and cognitive ability appear to be negatively affected. Fresh air is as important for this generation as it was to those pioneers in the 1940s.
The parks are truly wonderful resources for all of us, whether we enjoy camping in ancient woodland, walking the dog on the heath or just sitting in the car with a Thermos of tea and a pair of binoculars. We can all benefit from being outdoors – feeling the sun (or rain) on our skin and the wind whipping through our hair is both a simple pleasure and a profound experience.
Seventy years on, I think the National Parks are more important and necessary than ever. Thankfully, the Second World War is a distant memory, but conflict, grief, poverty and ill-health are ever present. Now, more than ever before, we need to look after Mother Nature, so that she can continue to look after us.
‘I feel so much better having been in the countryside’