Health Check Report published by the Campaign for National Parks

The recent Health Check Report published by the Campaign for National Parks (CNP) highlights that only 6% of the total land area of National Parks is managed effectively for nature. Although no real surprise, it is still sobering to see this damning statistic, and we can only hope it will prove a wake-up call for positive change and active steps towards nature recovery. On a more positive note, it is encouraging to see so many encouraging case studies highlighted throughout the Report, including the Woodland Trust’s fantastic woodland creation scheme at Snaizeholme in Yorkshire, which Maydencroft Limited has been proud to be involved in delivering.
The Report identifies fundamental challenges for National Parks, not least the quantity of land in private ownership and, therefore, the limited control NPAs have over land management practices or the ability and resources to deliver actions set out within NP Management Plans. Unsurprisingly, the study found that NP management plans lack specific timebound targets and have little certainty over delivery and resources.
Maydencroft Limited welcomes the Report’s call to ensure National Parks are recognised for nature as much as the landscape, increase funding, and improve incentives for landowners to enter agri-environment schemes to deliver NP Management Plan targets. We also hope that Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) has a role in securing long-term nature recovery within National Parks and will continue to open up opportunities to enhance land previously off-limits.
Head of Consultancy Jon Collins says, “Whilst the financial incentives offered by BNG are bringing many landowners and estates to the door of nature recovery, we must have a clearer framework for scrutiny, inspection and enforcement. BNG schemes within National Parks must be aligned with the strategic objectives within NP Management Plans, and NPAs need to be consulted on designs and HMMPs to ensure appropriateness”.
Visit our BNG website here: https://www.biodiversity-net-gain.co.uk
You can read the entire national parks report here: https://www.cnp.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/National-Parks-Health-Check-Report-Nature-Recovery-2024.pdf.