A Guide to England’s Ten National Parks
The Peak District, Geraldine Burles
England has 10 National Parks (which seems a lot, but actually is nothing like many other countries (Turkey has over 60). We also have National Landscapes (the new name for Areas of Outstanding Beauty). The idea is that nobody can come along and build on them, so here’s hoping to protect birds and native wildlife. And provide lovely walking holidays for outdoorsy-people!
When out walking, always follow the Countryside Code, to keep all creatures safe. At the coast, read how to keep dogs safe by the seaside.
The Peak District (England’s Oldest National Park)
This was opened back in 1951, after years of campaigning by local people, who were banned from walking near areas owned by rich landowners. It’s one of England’s most popular walking holiday destinations, if only because it’s very accessible to people living in the surrounding counties.
Covering over 550 square miles, this is a Park full of rolling hills, valleys and villages.
The South Downs (England’s Newest National Park)
This is a big area that stretches from Winchester (Hampshire) to Eastbourne (East Sussex). It’s mostly known for its chalk downs, and beech woods that glow with copper hues, when autumn arrives. Many villages (like Amberley) lie nestled in the valleys, with old pubs and hidden churches giving a real example of old England.
This park is an International Dark Sky Reserve, free from light pollution. This attracts many wildlife species from butterflies to skylarks and shy deer (who hide in ancient woodlands). Barn owls can safely hunt at dusk, and local nature reserves help to protect rare bats, dormice and orchids.
The South Downs Way is a 100-mile national trail that runs across the heart of the park. It’s well-marked and open to walkers, taking you through open hills, secret valleys and quiet forests.
Northumberland (the whole county is a National Park!)
Beadnell, Pastel Pine
This county has one of England’s lowest populations, and covers both a huge forest and beautiful coastline, home to many birds (including puffins) and marine creatures. It’s also mostly free from light pollution.
Interestingly, it has one of England’s largest populations of endangered red squirrels. This is because it houses pine forests (red squirrels need natural habitats for good immunity against Squirrelpox – read more on how to help both red and grey squirrels)
North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales
The Yorkshire Dales is home to many stone-built villages and dramatic waterfalls, amid heather moorland that stretches into Lancashire and Cumbria. It’s home to 100 species of nesting birds, 30 species of mammals, 25 species of butterflies, 1000 species of moth and a unique moss not found elsewhere. Here also lives the brown long-eared bat (his ears much longer than his body!)
The North York Moors are more wild and open, stretching from Thirsk and Helmsley to the Yorkshire coast at Whitby. Some valleys are dense with pine forest, while late summer bring purple heather that rolls over high moorland. This historic natural haven is a haven for walkers.
The Lake District (England’s Largest National Park)
Making up a good portion of the county of Cumbria in north west England, The Lake District is huge, and home to all of England’s highest mountains and 16 lakes (most of which confusing are meres or terns, there is only one ‘real lake’.
England’s largest body of water is Lake Windermere, also here (though these days more in the news for its problems with sewage pollution). The area also has strong literary connections, especially with poet William Wordsworth (who warned not to put a railway station at Windermere, for fears of over-tourism). He was right.
The New Forest (on the Hampshire/Dorset border)
This forest contains the largest expanse of lowland heath in southern England, a habitat now rarer than rainforest. Home to some of oldest trees in western Europe (some over 1000 years old), it’s a diverse patchwork of ancient woodland, heathland and coast (with 75% of the world’s dragonflies found here).
The New Forest Verderers employ five Agisters whose oversee all grazing wild ponies, livestock, cattle, donkeys, pigs and sheep (but not deer or other wild animals).
Never disturb or feed wild ponies. For concerns, contact the Verderer and Agisters website. Road traffic accidents involving ponies, cattle, donkeys, pigs and sheep must be reported immediately on 999.
The Norfolk and Suffolk Broads (manmade wetlands)
Known as ‘England’s Amazon’, the Broads are home to many creatures you likely won’t find elsewhere in England these days: bitterns, marsh harriers, swallow butterflies and fen raft spiders all find safe haven here. As do avocets, wading birds with unique upturned beaks.
The Norfolk Broads (manmade wetland waterways) are home to 25% of England’s birds and native wildlife (including rare Swallowtail butterflies). There are seven rivers and over 60 broads (bodies of water). They span over 120 miles of rivers and lakes, created from flooded medieval peat diggings.
Wildlife thrives here, from kingfishers to the haunting calls of bitterns in the reeds. The Suffolk Broads were also filled with water hundreds of years ago, and again provide essential habitats for wading birds.
Wherry boats are the traditional way to get around here. Most rely on human power or wind, so they don’t pollute the water either. They also don’t have engine noise, a bonus for local wildlife. Read our post on how to be a sustainable sailor!
Dartmoor and Exmoor (small National Parks in Devon)
Dartmoor is 954 square kilometres, making it one of southern England’s largest open spaces, home to over 160 granite tors. Much of this park is owned by Prince William (passed to him when his father became King).
Land campaigner Guy Shrubsole says a lot of this land needs to be rewilded, as it is ‘devoid of trees and birds for miles’. Campaigners say the ‘small potatoes’ offered is not enough to restore ‘England’s rainforest’
Exmoor is England’s only National Park with a coast. Never light fires, stoves or barbecues in National Parks (wild camping is not allowed).
Both parks are home to wild ponies, so never disturb or feed them. For concerns, contact the Livestock Protection Officer (Dartmoor), Exmoor Pony Society (and Moorland Mousie Trust).
