Our Council

Why join?

• To represent your organisation’s interests at meetings featuring high-profile speakers from Government, campaigning NGOs and National Park experts as well as plenty of time for discussion. 

• To gain insights into the latest policy developments affecting National Parks and to contribute ideas which help shape our future campaigns and other work. 

• To collaborate, network and share knowledge with other leading organisations in the sector and keep in touch with what’s going on across the National Parks. 

• To participate in and support campaigns and other work led by Campaign for National Parks. 

• To be part of a collective voice advocating for the changes needed for National Parks. 

• To provide public recognition of your organisation’s support for Campaign for National Parks. 

• To help fund work to influence the public and decision-makers on the issues that matter for National Parks. 

• To contribute to our governance through the election of our trustees.  

What do members get?

• To be part of a much bigger voice for National Parks, to influence Government and decision makers.  

• Access to specialist advice and support from our policy and campaigns experts. 

• Influence our collective policy agenda, and our advocacy, campaigns and activities with decision-makers in Westminster and the Senedd, authorities and the media.   

• Opportunities to inform national policy and propose topics for exploration and discussion at Council. 

• Request the setting up of one-off meetings to bring together Council members with specific interests such as wildlife or sustainable tourism. 

• Contribute to influential research and reports, such as our recent National Parks Health Check.    

• Our magazine ‘Viewpoint’: digital copies available for all staff of Council members in addition to up to four printed copies.  

• Invitations to twice-yearly Council meetings – likely to alternate between in-person and online meetings in future – and our parliamentary receptions. 

• As members of our Council, you will have an advisory role on Campaign for National Parks’ strategy and policy, and a governance role in election of our Board of trustees. 

Who can apply for Council membership?

We welcome any local or national organisation that wants to help achieve our shared vision of nature-rich National Parks for everyone. Please get in touch if your organisation is interested in joining by emailing Ruth Bradshaw at RuthB@cnp.org.uk

Membership fees are paid annually, and our affordable pricing model is dependent on organisational turnover, on a sliding scale. This means that both large and small organisations can access Council membership.

History of the Council for National Parks

In 1936, our founding Council members came together under the leadership of John Dower and others, to work together on a campaign with a single objective: to secure the establishment of National Parks. Over the decades since that first campaign was won, the Council has continued to come together to support a shared endeavour, to secure and protect National Parks for people and nature. Today, many of the constituent organisations are actively supporting this cause as Council members, and we have been joined over the years by many more.

Our history