The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Caroline Spelman, has announced her intention to appoint new members to five National Park Authorities (NPAs) and to the Broads Authority. 

There will be two vacancies in the New Forest, North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales NPAs and one vacancy in the Peak District and South Downs NPAs and the Broads Authority.

The Secretary of State appoints members to reflect the national importance placed on these bodies, with responsibility for conservation, recreation, planning, access, land management and resources as well as reflecting both local and national interests.  

The appointments will commence in May 2012, or as soon after as practical, and are initially for up to four years with the option of re-appointment for a total period of up to eight years. 

Applications are particularly encouraged from members of ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, women and young people. 

For more information, visit this website:

www.defra.gov.uk/news/2012/01/09/new-members-wanted-for-national-park-authorities/ 

Location: England
permalink

Group Leader visit to Dartmoor on YouTube

Watch an 8 minute film to follow a recent visit to Dartmoor by Mosaic Community Champions. 

Location: Dartmoor National Park
permalink

You are invited to nominate people to carry the Olympic Torch 

The stopover points for the Olympic Torch were announced on 18 May – the route itself is top secret for obvious reasons  - and is designed to spread the spirit of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games around the nation. But who will carry the Torch?

Do you know someone who is truly inspirational? Someone who always strives to do their best? This is your chance to give them their moment to shine. 

With one year to go until the Olympic Flame arrives in the UK, London 2012 has launched the search for 8,000 Torchbearers to take part in the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay.  They will be individuals whose personal stories will inspire millions of people as the 70-day Relay travels the length and breadth of the UK.

Call to action – Olympic Torch relay

Natural England has been invited to carry the flame for the environment and seek out people who have demonstrated commitment to the natural environment and its enjoyment though our network or partners. We will be promoting this information externally through our website and inviting partners and stakeholders to include it on theirs. 

The call to action for twofold. Firstly, can you think about volunteers who have been outstanding in their work for the natural environment? Secondly, can  you to encourage our partners to nominate ‘heroes’ too and include information about the opportunity in any briefings or at meetings.

Together with their Presenting Partners Coca Cola, Lloyds TSB and Samsung, London 2012 need us to help them find the Torchbearers for the environment.  Please go to the London 2012 website to find out more and make your nomination. 

The closing date is 29 June

Location: London 2012
permalink

Press release

A group of ethnic minority community leaders from Newcastle experienced two strikingly different seasons in the North Tyne valley last weekend (12-13 March).  The leaders were on a visit to Northumberland to learn about its spectacular National Park. They are part of the national Mosaic project, led by the Campaign for National Parks, that trains “community champions” from ethnic minority communities to help familiarise and welcome others in their communities to the English countryside via the National Parks. The project also aims to encourage people from ethnic minorities to become involved in the future of National Parks. 

True to its upland nature, the North Tyne provided both snowball-making weather and the brilliant blue skies and warm sunshine of spring in the space of two days. 

The Champions enjoyed walks around Kielder village and Bellingham, as well as a riverside trail across former railways and riverbanks along the Falstone circular. They received a talk about Northumberland National Park and its special qualities from National Park Authority rangers, and they also visited the award-winning Bellingham Heritage Centre that exhibits a fascinating display of the rural, Reiver and industrial history of the North Tyne Valley. On Sunday morning they helped the National Park by taking part in a session to review the Park Action Plans, to help ensure that the National Park is accessible to all audiences.  

Community Champion Rumin Ahad said: “The weather was cold, but the activities were good,” explaining that visiting the National Park “has helped familiarise me with it and given me the confidence to come back on my own.” 

Champion Roya Razaee added: “I needed this contact with the National Park to inspire me to do some work with the community so that they can have this fantastic experience too.” 

Fazeelat Iqbal, who has been a Champion for a while and taken many groups to Northumberland National Park over the last year, said: “the weekend was very relaxing – the change of weather and scenery made me feel refreshed.” 

Northumberland National Park Authority Visitor Development Manager Duncan Wise said “it is inspiring to see people new to the National Park be so enthusiastic about it, and committed to bringing more people here to share the experience.” 

The Champions stayed at Kielder YHA. Through the Mosaic project, they have learned about the YHA as an affordable and friendly option for staying overnight in the National Parks.  

Helen Jackson, CEO of the Campaign for National Parks, explains why the organisation is proud to be leading the Mosaic project: “The National Parks were created over sixty years ago for the benefit of the public. Only about one per cent of visitors to National Parks are from ethnic minority communities, although over ten per cent of the population is from an ethnic minority background. It is very important that a cross section of the British population develops a passion for National Parks and cares about their future protection.” 

This year is the Campaign for National Parks’ 75th anniversary celebration, which is being marked with the theme of “get into National Parks.”  CNP wants to generate a renewed interest in and enthusiasm for our National Parks so that more people know about them, experience them, understand them and help to look after them. 

ENDS

For further information, please contact:

Nina Arwitz, Mosaic Programme Manager, Campaign for National Parks, 020 7924 4077 ext. 227, nina@cnp.org.uk

Frances Whitehead, Communications Officer, Northumberland National Park Authority, 01434 611542, frances.whitehead@nnpa.org.uk                                   

Notes to editors 

(1) Mosaic is led by the Campaign for National Parks, in partnership with the Youth Hostels Association and the ten National Park Authorities in England.  For more information visit www.mosaicnationalparks.org.

(2) The Campaign for National Parks is the national charity that campaigns to protect and promote National Parks of England and Wales, and celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2011.

(3) For more information about Northumberland National Park Authority, please visit: www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk/.

Location: Northumberland National Park
permalink

Press release

36 young people aged 16-25 from youth centres and community groups across the South West spent this weekend (4-6 March) at Okehampton Youth Hostel on the edge of Dartmoor to celebrate their collective efforts promoting the National Parks to new and younger audiences.  

The weekend was organised by Mosaic, a project led by the Campaign for National Parks, which celebrarates its 75th anniversary this year.  Mosaic aims to engage young people, particularly those from disadvantaged urban backgrounds, to experience National Parks and encourages them to become ‘Champions’ for these special landscapes.  After a successful 18-month project in Dartmoor and Exmoor National Parks, that saw over 60 ‘Young Champions’ recruited from Barnstaple, Bideford, Bridgewater, Bristol, Exeter, Plymouth and Taunton, this weekend was a chance for everyone to reflect on the impact of the project and share in the achievements of the young people. 

Each young person has had very different motivations for getting involved in Mosaic, but nearly all agreed that being in a National Park allowed them to forget about their worries, even if it was just for a few days.  

With unemployment rising in this age group, and local frontline support services including youth clubs and youth workers being cut, there is increasing pressure on a generation of young people.  Projects like Mosaic make a difference, and give young people an opportunity to develop skills that can be invaluable later on in life.  But more than anything being outdoors in a special place like a National Park offers an important escape from young people’s often chaotic and stressful lives.    

Elliot (16) from Dulverton got involved with Mosaic through his local youth service and has been helping to promote the benefits of National Parks to his friends by giving talks at school.  Elliot loves being on Exmoor, and explains that ‘you don’t have to worry about anything when you’re out there.’   

It’s a sentiment that a number of the young people agree with, particularly those who are facing difficult times looking for employment, living in sheltered accommodation or who have challenging circumstances and responsibilities. 

Caz (22) is from Bideford and is a full-time carer for her grandmother.  When she gets the chance she enjoys spending time getting away from it all in the National Parks.  Caz is currently involved in helping Exmoor National Park Authority to develop a pocket guide that will appeal to young people and undertook an inspection of Dunster visitor centre to see how well it catered for younger visitors.  Her involvement in Mosaic is just one of many volunteering commitments.  For her she feels it’s important to ‘give something back to the community.’  

During the weekend the young people and their youth workers had the chance to try out a range of activities to help them explore Dartmoor. Some opted for mountain biking and pony trekking while others tried out archery or used natural materials to create works of art inspired by the outdoors. In addition everyone took part in a conservation challenge to help support the work of the National Park rangers.  One team rolled up their sleeves and got physical gorse cutting at Meldon Quarry, while another team took up tools to construct 21 dormouse boxes!  

Mosaic Youth Project Officer David Rolls commented: ‘The National Parks rely on volunteer support to help them undertake conservation work, so to see the ‘Young Champions’ react so enthusiastically to the tasks was really encouraging.  Not only are we helping these young people to enjoy the outdoors, but we are helping them to understand the fragility of the National Parks and installing a sense of responsibility in them to look after these landscapes for years to come.’    

Jamie (19) is from Bridgewater and is currently looking for work.  He describes Dartmoor as an ‘amazing place’ and was instrumental in organising the dormouse box-making exercise. Jamie will be helping to co-ordinate a group of friends to install the new habitats at Nutcombe Bottom on Exmoor at the end of March.  

This is the key thing about Mosaic – it’s youth led.  The ‘Young Champions’ decide how they want to get involved and how the project will evolve. The youth workers and project staff simply give them the confidence and support to make their ambitions a reality.     

The weekend also demonstrated the invaluable role that National Parks can play in helping to tackle some of the social problems facing young people today. These landscapes are inspirational places that give young people the opportunity to try new experiences and develop vital skills that can help them cope with the worries and challenges of modern life both now and as they reach adulthood.

For further information contact:

David Rolls (Mosaic Youth Project Officer): 0793 509 9462; david@cnp.org.uk

Nina Arwitz (Mosaic Programme Manager): 020 7924 4077 ext. 227; nina@cnp.org.uk

Notes to Editors

(1) Mosaic is led by the Campaign for National Parks, in partnership with the Youth Hostels Association and the ten National Park Authorities in England.  For more information visit www.mosaicnationalparks.org

(2) The Campaign for National Parks is a national charity that is committed to protecting and promoting all of the National Parks of England and Wales.  The Charity celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2011. Visit www.cnp.org.uk for more information about our latest campaigns and how you can celebrate with us in our anniversary year. 

Location: Dartmoor National Park
permalink