The Cairngorms National Park Authority have been the green light from the Scottish Government to move forward with the Core Paths Plan. It has been designed to attract more people into the outdoors and manage access across land and water.

The Peak District National Park Authority (PDNPA) is to invest £2.25m towards the improvement of its cycle trials.
They have secured funding from the Department of Transport and Cycling England and plan to use it to improve the quality of off-road cycling trails and promote leisure cycling in the National Park.

The New Forest National Park Authority (NFNPA) is going to carry out a public consultation on two draft documents outlining its 20 year vision for the park. The National Park Plan and the Recreation Management Strategy are the result of a development and consultation process between the Authority and 70 organisations, as well as workshops. The National Park Plan is the first National Park Management Plan that has been developed by NFNPA, and a first to be combined with the Core Strategy.

A website that guides visitors around the 555 sq miles of the Peak District National Park has been created by the Peak Interpretation Partnership. It is in partnership with the Peak District National Park Authority, Derbyshire County Council, Derbyshire Dales District Council, High Peak Borough Council, The National Trust, Natural England, English Heritage and Severn Trent Water. The Website is funded through the partnership and part-financed by the European Regional Development Fund.

Since starting some five years ago the Peak District Sustainable Development Fund has provided just under £1m in grant funding to help green projects in the National Park.

Some interesting statistics on the New Forest National Park.

A recent survey published by the National Parks in the United Kingdom revealed that 93% of participants felt that National Parks are important to them.  National Parks are very important  for rural economies which and attract some 150 million visitors per annum.

The Association of National Park Authorities Conference 2007: National Parks: The Next Ten Years runs from Wednesday 19 September – Friday 21 September at Palace Hotel in Buxtox.  To find out more click here.

The UK’s 14 National Parks are running a number of events to celebrate National Parks Week running from the 30th of July to 5th of August 2007.