Britain’s countryside celebrated during National Parks Week
Families are being encouraged to get out into the great outdoors and find out how farming has shaped the UK’s landscapes during National Park Week, which begins today.
The annual event celebrates some of Britain’s finest countryside, with events such as food-themed walks and farm visits, to chocolate making and a farm photography competition.
This year, to help highlight the Year of Food and Farming, the activities and events are themed around local produce, and helping children understand where their food comes from, and how it is produced.
A survey carried out last year found that one in five children have never visited the countryside. The National Parks hope that many families will take advantage of the special events on offer in the school holidays to visit – maybe for the first time.
Hundreds of fun events and activities are planned for National Parks Week, which began this week after a series of picnics in the run up to the event in the North York Moors, Brecon Beacons, Pembrokeshire Coast and The Broads.
For people who live in a National Park or are just visiting, supporting, buying and eating local produce makes an important contribution to the local economy of the communities that live there.
Farms in the UK National Parks are the source of a wonderful variety of produce and recipes from all over the country, including a chef’s suggestion of a soup made with 15 year old Malt whiskey, will be made available on the National Parks website.
England’s National Parks are set to receive ten per cent extra funding over the next three years. Defra’s annual grant to the eight National Park authorities and Broads Authority will rise from £46.2 million now to £48.9 milllion in 2010/11.
Further information
- Find out more about National Parks
Page published: 28 July 2008