Have you ever explored one of the UK’s national parks? We have 15, and they’re all worth a visit. The next time you read a tweet (or an ‘X’ post?) that makes you want to throw your phone against a wall, clear a day in your calendar to walk through one and become one with trees, or mountains, or rivers.
The only thing that could possibly be more exciting than a visit to a national park is a visit to a new national park, and soon you may be able to adventure in the latter.
A public consultation has been launched on whether or not to create a brand new national park in north Wales. The park would encompass the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and would be the first of its kind in Wales to be designated since the Brecon Beacons, now called Bannau Brycheiniog, in 1957. It would also become the fourth national park in Wales, joining the Beacons, Snowdonia, and Eryri.
The online consultation, which ended on Tuesday (December 16), after two months of hearing views from local residents and council members, was pretty split. 51 per cent were for the park but 42 per cent were against, which is a pretty sizeable minority. Some were concerned that the local area could not cope with the increase in tourism and visitorship, whilst others, including Trevor Bates, a councillor for the nearby town of Dyffryn Ceiriog, said that it would be damaging to the landscape.
‘How do you protect the environment from four million visitors in Snowdon – and their dogs? The environment is destroyed, the habitat is destroyed,’ he said to the BBC, adding: ‘You can't support conservation with so many visitors.’
Others, however, disagree, believing this would raise the profile of the already impressive landscape and bring in more money for surrounding rural areas.
If it is deemed that there is enough public support for the project, it will be brought to the Welsh parliament sometime next year (2025), where plans will be drawn up and boundaries will be discussed. As the public opinion is so divided, it could go either way at the moment, but you don’t need to wait until the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley becomes a park to visit. In fact, if you get in now it’ll probably be less busy – perfect for your digital detox.
Discover nature in the UK
There are a lot of ways to enjoy the Great British countryside. We have guides to great roadtrips across the country, Britain's best campsites, and some of the best natural wonders you can find without so much as boarding a plane.
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