Call for new ‘People’s Charter’ on 75th anniversary of National Parks

Published: 16 December 2024

Today, on the 75^th anniversary of royal assent of the revolutionary National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949, the organisations which collectively promoted that law, call for a new vision from government.

Hailed as a People’s Charter, the 1949 Act was to enable all citizens, no matter their background, to immerse themselves in the wonders of nature. This vision has never been more relevant. As we celebrate 75 years of National Parks, we must look to their future.

We unite today in calling for a renewed People’s Charter.

National Parks must be wilder and more accessible, where wildlife is in abundance and supported by effective and proper policies and protections for nature at landscape scale. Communities must be supported to thrive through the green economy and all damaging activities prohibited. We need to unleash the potential of our public-path network across England and Wales. Every citizen, regardless of age or background, must feel welcome and able to benefit from access to our great natural heritage.

We support Government reforms which prioritise nature recovery, bolster National Parks and encourage access to the countryside for all.

Building on a historic legacy

Following years of campaigning, in 1949, our organisations convinced a new Labour government to pass a ground-breaking new law, part of the post-war renewal.

The National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act has had a huge legacy. It established the nature protections we have today (sites of special scientific interest, national nature reserves), defined and protected paths across England and Wales, and established the National Parks and National Landscapes.

Like the NHS, National Parks and access to the countryside are much beloved by the nation; offering opportunities to connect with nature and improved health and well-being. National Parks still contain some of the rarest species on the brink and the last fragments of precious habitat – such as chalk streams, temperate rain forest and flower-rich hay meadows. Access to the National Parks and the countryside provides us with hope and inspiration, but reform is needed to ensure these assets and opportunities deliver for nature and secure what the nation needs today.

Now on the 75th anniversary of this seminal Act, we have the opportunity to build on Labour’s historical legacy for National Parks and access to the countryside. We call on Government to renew the People’s Charter.

Dr Rose O’Neill, Chief executive of Campaign for National Parks said:

“When drawing up the first laws to protect National Parks, legislators could not comprehend the nature and climate emergency. Our Health Check⁽¹⁾ shows that nature in England’s National Parks is in rapid decline and there are also large inequalities in who visits and governs National Parks. We should rightly celebrate the 1949 legacy, but to secure the future, we urgently must invest in our National Parks and reform them, with strengthened powers to set a clear mandate for nature⁽²⁾ and fix broken governance. A new National Park in northeast Wales offers a welcome opportunity to create an exemplar for nature, climate and communities⁽³⁾”.

James Blake, Chief Executive of YHA (England & Wales) said:

“Nature’s benefits must be accessible to all, especially young people, to nurture healthier minds and bodies and foster a deep connection with the environment. The post-war Labour government had the foresight to understand this, and our passion for affordable, equitable access for all burns just as brightly today. Supporting programmes like Generation Green^(3,4) which extend opportunities to access nature to young people from all communities must be prioritised now in this post-pandemic recovery, to capitalise on nature’s benefits to health, education and living standards, core to this Labour government’s plan for change.”

Kate Ashbrook, General Secretary of the Open Spaces Society said:

“We are proud to have campaigned for the seminal 1949 Act.  Now we need to ensure that its legacy endures, that everyone can benefit from what National Parks offer, with a warm welcome and wider freedoms, and that these spectacular landscapes are protected for all to enjoy.”

Roger Mortlock, CEO of CPRE, the countryside charity said:

“When Sir Patrick Abercrombie founded CPRE in 1926 he called for ‘a bold and wide policy’ for National Parks. Today, as we celebrate the enormous contribution of national parks, we’re calling for stronger long-term policies and protections for them. We need a strategic approach to land use, to ensure these most treasured landscapes are protected for future generations.” 

Ross Maloney, Chief Executive of the Ramblers said:

“Access to nature has a key role to play in helping the government deliver its missions. But despite the vision behind the 1949 Act, too many people today are missing out. Over 20 million people live more than 15 minutes’ walk from green and blue spaces. Over 20% of people cannot make use of existing access due to disability. And our precious path network is blocked in tens of thousands of places. We need reform, through new legislation, to tackle these barriers head on and bring the benefits of walking to everyone.”

Michael Copleston, Director of RSPB England said:

“The National Parks Act is one of the great success stories of the past century, and is a real testament to how much was achieved at a time, post war, when things were unimaginably hard yet the benefit and pride in nature and countryside mattered. Marking this celebration, we have to ask ourselves what decisions can we make now that benefit future generations, knowing National Parks have sadly seen a continued decline in nature much like all parts of the UK. It needn’t be this way. We know that nature recovery is the number one priority that people want to see in our protected landscapes, so it’s vital these places are given the tools and resources to achieve this.

Michael Hill, Chief Executive of Friends of the Lake District said:

“As one of the oldest landscape charities in the UK, we’re proud to have been part of the campaign that led to the 1949 Act. We support this call for a new People’s Charter which ensures that National Parks are accessible to all, and are places where nature thrives alongside the communities that live and work within them.”

Jonty Colchester, Chair of CPRW, the Welsh Countryside Charity said: 

“Since 1928, CPRW has been advocating on behalf of rural Wales. CPRW played a major role in proposing, campaigning for and ultimately, the creation of our National Parks alongside side our partners. In fact, one of our founding members, Clough Williams-Ellis (Architect of Portmeirion) shared the proposals for the Eryri National Park to HM King George VI and HM Queen Elizabeth. We are thrilled to be celebrating the 75^th anniversary of the National Park act this year. We’re committed and passionate about safeguarding our countryside for the benefit of our communities, our biodiversity, our rivers, our landscapes, our language and culture and our visitors.”

Hilary McGrady, Director General of the National Trust said:

“Our National Parks are one of the UK’s best ideas, and the National Trust has been proud to play an active part in their establishment, growth and ability to give joy to millions of people over the past 75 years. As we look forward to the next 75 years, we know that our National Parks face new challenges which means they need to evolve to live up to the spirit under which they were founded. That is why we are pleased to support the People’s Charter, so that they continue to be places where people, nature and communities thrive”.

Ends

In 1936, our organisations came together to form the Standing Committee for National Parks working with a single objective: to secure the establishment of National Parks. This resulted in the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act in 1949 and the founding of National Parks in England and Wales. The Standing Committee is now known as Campaign for National Parks and, over the decades since that first campaign was won, our organisations continue to work together for nature-rich National Parks for everyone.

Campaign for National Parks

CPRE, the countryside charity

CPRW, the Welsh countryside charity

Friends of the Lake District

National Trust

Open Spaces Society

Ramblers

RSPB

YHA (England & Wales)

Notes

1. National Parks Health Check Report – Campaign for National Parks
2. It’s time to put nature first in our National Parks – Campaign for National Parks
3. New National Park in North East Wales – Campaign for National Parks
4. Generation Green – YHA
5. John Dower’s legacy: a call to action on access | LiveMoreYHA