- To make life better for people in the countryside.
They believe that everyone living in the countryside should have the same opportunities and should be able to enjoy good quality of life. The countryside agency believe that it doesn’t make any difference where their home is, whether it be in a busy town, small village or in a remote rural area all people should still be able to have the access to all the services that they need, i.e. shops, transport and affordable housing, and also a say in how their community develops.
- To make the quality of the countryside better for everyone.
The countryside agency believes that while they are recognising the change in the needs of those who are living there that they should also be able to conserve and enhance its rich landscape, its biodiversity, heritage and local customs. It is also believed by the agency that everyone should be allowed to use and enjoy the countryside for relaxation and recreation purposes. This agency also believes that everyone should be able to benefit from the food and other products that the countryside creates.
Association of National Park Authorities
ANPA or the Association of National Park Authorities is a statutory body; its job is to provide the National Park Authorities (NPAs) with a single voice, especially when they are dealing with the government and other agencies. The Association also does its best to try and provide a focus for shared working and corporate activity; conclusively they are trying to get the best practice across the national parks.
ANPA’s Objectives
ANPA’s aim is to create a countryside that is fit for the future. They hope to do this by trying to reach the following objectives:
- ANPA’s first objective is to try and increase public awareness of the purpose and reason why National Parks have been created.
- They also hope to promote National Parks as sustainable landscapes where people can and do live and work.
- ANPA tries to increase the understanding of members and staff of National Park Authorities through training and developing them.
- ANPA hopes to be a focus for shared working and corporate activity.
What is a National Park? The definition for a National Park as by (Dower, J, National Parks in England &Wales, HMSO, 1945) is:
"an extensive area of beautiful and relatively wild country in which, for the nation's benefit and by appropriate national decision and action:
- The characteristic landscape beauty is strictly preserved;
- Access and facilities for open-air enjoyment are amply provided;
- Wildlife and buildings and places of architectural and historic interest are suitably protected;
- Established farming use is effectively maintained"
Where are the National Parks in the UK?
There are twelve National Parks that are located all over England and Wales. They are as follows:
- The Peak District
- Dartmoor
- Yorkshire Dales
- Brecon Beacons
- Lake District
- Pembrokeshire Coast
- Exmoor
- The Broads
- Snowdonia
- North York Moors
- Northumberland
- New Forest
If they were all put together then the UK’s National Parks would cover around 10% of the UK's rural areas.
The work of the National Park Authorities
National park authorities such as ANPA are recognised with national importance, they provide protection as best they can for their landscapes. They try to conserve many features of the parks, such as natural beauty, wildlife and human heritage. They also do their best to promote the understanding and enjoyment of the parks and there special qualities.
The Countryside Code
Many people enjoy using the countryside as it allows them an escape from all the stresses of everyday life. When going into the countryside you may not see another person for many hours and in some places you might not be able to get a signal on your mobile phone so it is advised to let someone know where you are going and when you expect to return. The countryside code is a set of rules that you should follow when you are going into the countryside, this is both for your safety and for the preservation of the countryside itself. Many people follow the countryside code and get the excitement and enjoyment that they wanted from it.
It is useful to know the signs and symbols used in the countryside, they are as follows:
Leave gates and property as you find them
Farmers often leave gates closed so that their livestock doesn’t escape but sometimes they may leave it open so that they can reach food and water. If you are in doubt then it is best to leave the gate as you found it. You should follow paths that are on fields where crops are growing and use gates and stiles wherever you can. You should always leave machinery and livestock alone even if you think the animal is in distress, it is best to alert the farmer instead of trying to do something yourself.
Protect plants and animals and take your litter home
It is a criminal offence to so not only will you get arrested for dropping litter but makes the place look untidy and can be dangerous to wildlife and farm animals. You should be careful not to damage the natural environment such as rocks, plants and trees as they can be homes for wildlife. Sometimes legal fires can be set in order to manage vegetation, they are usually set between October and April so it is important to check that a fire is not supervised before you call 999.
Keep your dog under close control
By law you must control your dog so that it does not scare animals. Although you do not have to keep your dog on a lead when on public footpaths if you cannot control it, it is best to do so. By law a farmer is allowed to destroy a dog that injures or worries their animals. Dog mess is unpleasant and can cause infection, clean it up.
Consider other people
You should respect the needs of local people, for example by not blocking gateways or driveways. By law cyclists should give way to walkers and horse riders on bridleways and everyone should keep out of the way when farm animals are being gathered or moved, you should follow directions from the farmer when this is happening.
