Do we need more national parks?
Not everyone thinks these areas are good for people or nature.
What you need to know
New national parks could soon be created in England, Scotland and Wales as part of Government plans.
National parks are areas of countryside that enjoy special protections, with strict rules on what can be built there.
There are a total of 15 national parks in the UK – 10 in England, three in Wales and two in Scotland.
The first national park in the UK was the Peak District in England. It was created in 1951. The first Welsh national park, Snowdonia, was created later that year. Scotland’s first, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, wasn’t set up until 2002.
The UK’s national parks are known for their spectacular mountains, forests, lakes and seashores. In UK law they have specific purposes, such as protecting nature. The authorities have to consider these purposes when they are deciding where to create a new national park. Now, plans from the UK, Welsh and Scottish governments suggest setting up three more. In Wales, the new park would be in the north-east of the country. Final locations in England and Scotland have not yet been confirmed. Not everyone thinks national parks are a good idea, though. Some people say they attract too many visitors, who do more harm than good. Others say all the UK’s countryside should be protected. What do you think, do we need more national parks?
Yes – national parks are good for nature
National parks are full of beautiful scenery and – more importantly – give protection to plant and animal species. Green spaces are also vital in fighting climate change because plants and trees take polluting gases like carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. More national parks mean more protected nature. National parks are very important in the day-to-day lives of people, too. They attract tourists who support many businesses, including restaurants, hotels and activity centres. Also, having more green areas gives more people a chance to get out into nature. In fact, there are lots of studies that have shown spending time in the natural world is good for people’s mental and physical health.
No – they do more harm than good
National parks are not as environmentally friendly as they seem. In the UK – unlike in much of the US – park land is often farmed, so it’s not truly wild. Yes, national parks attract lots of tourists but these visitors often harm the environment by dropping litter, disturbing wildlife and travelling in polluting cars. Also, national parks drive up the cost of buying or renting housing in nearby areas. Homes in the area are often bought by rich people from far away who want to use them just for holidays, instead of living there all the time. This means fewer people live in the area and businesses find it hard to survive. Besides, why do we need to create parks with special status in order to look after nature? We should be protecting all our green spaces.