There are currently 15 national parks in the UK: Snowdonia, Northumberland, The Broads, Pembrokeshire, New Forest, Brecon Beacons, South Downs, North York Moors, Yorkshire Dales, Exmoor, Dartmoor, Peak District, the Lake District, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs and the Cairngorms.
It sounds like a lot, but that list is about to get even longer. In line with the Conservative government’s 2019 manifesto pledge to create ‘new national parks’, a search for a sixteenth national park will commence in early in 2023. With so many dazzling landscapes up and down the country, the competition is as fierce as Ru Paul’s dragwalk.
Who’s in the running? The Cotswolds, Chilterns, Cornwall and Dorset are all tipped as potential candidates. But it will be down to Natural England to identify the area – in England – which will be considered for the designation, after the organisation was commissioned by Environment Secretary Steve Barclay for the project.
According to the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the search will be focused on looking for England’s most beautiful nature spots, ‘alongside the area’s ability to connect people with nature.’ The most recent national park to be created was the South Downs, back in 2010.
Wales and Scotland are also each looking to create their own new national parks.
Did you see that Leeds’ legendary Tetley building is getting a massive makeover?
Plus: this Yorkshire heritage railway will soon become a commuter route.
Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out UK newsletter for the latest UK news and the best stuff happening across the country.