South Pennines Regional Park

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South Pennines Regional Park
Pennine scenery.jpg
The Wessenden Valley south of Marsden in West Yorkshire
South Pennines Regional Park
Coordinates 53°44′24″N2°03′29″W / 53.740°N 2.058°W / 53.740; -2.058
Area460 square miles (1,200 km2)
Elevation1,873 feet (571 m)
Created2021
Website Official website

The South Pennines Regional Park (or South Pennines Park) was a proposed national park that would cover the South Pennines area in Northern England, encompassing parts of Greater Manchester, Lancashire and West Yorkshire. It would also adjoin the borders of two existing national parks; the Yorkshire Dales in the north and the Peak District in the south. The area was named as a prospective national park in the 1940s when the idea of creating national parks was being carried forward, but it was never given the same status as the Peak District, North York Moors or the Yorkshire Dales.

Contents

The South Pennines Regional Park was championed by many agencies and charities. Pennine Prospects were awarded Heritage Lottery Funding in 2018. In September 2021, the park was launched under a "self-declaration" scheme, though its status is not recognised by DEFRA.

The organisation behind the proposal closed at the end of 2023. [1] The South Pennines is the only upland area of England without any designated protection framework.

History

In 1947, Sir Arthur Hobhouse delivered a report to the UK Government on the establishment of National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). This in turn led to the passing of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act of 1949. [2] The creation of the parks and AONBs was seen as a "recreational gift to Britain’s returning Second World War service men and women". [3] By 2018, Britain had 15 National Parks and England had 34 AONBs; ten of the National parks are in England, Wales has three and Scotland has two. [note 1] [4] In the original list drawn up by Hobhouse, but not published, was the area of the South Pennines. However, it was decided that due to the industrial heritage of the region, it would not be appropriate to list the site for protection under either National Park status or as an AONB. [5]

In May 2018, the Environment Secretary, Michael Gove, announced a review into the National Parks. Writing in The Telegraph , Gove stated that the intent was to review their function but not to "diminish the protection of natural areas, but to strengthen it in the face of present-day challenges." This could lead to new national parks or certain AONBs being upgraded in their status. [6] [7] [8]

The South Pennines is a large upland area that extends from East Lancashire across West Yorkshire and touches Greater Manchester and the Peak District in the south. [9] The region is the only upland area in England without national park status or designated protected framework although various individual sections have some protected status (such as the South Pennine Moors Special Area of Conservation (SAC) which covers more than 65,000 hectares (160,000 acres) and describes moorland which has 9,000 year-old peatlands). [10] The South Pennines has 15 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and 2,604 miles (4,190 km) of paths and bridleways including two national trails (the Pennine Way and the Pennine Bridleway). [11] After the announcement by Michael Gove, Pennine Prospects, [note 2] [12] a rural regeneration agency, urged the committee overseeing the National Parks review to not forget the South Pennines. [13] Pennine Prospects achieved Local Nature Partnership (LNP) status in 2012; the boundary of the LNP will mirror that of the National Character Area profile designated as the South Pennines. [14]

In 2018, Pennine Prospects was awarded Heritage Lottery Funding (HLF) for training and providing information in the designation of a Regional Park, the first of its kind in the country. Pennine Prospects stated before the National Parks review that rather than wait for government approval in a designated status, they would work from the ground up to achieve regional park status. [15] As part of this process, the park was announced in September 2021, under a "self-declaration" scheme, though without official recognition from the Department for the Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). The self-designation scheme would see the park adjoin the borders of the Peak District National Park in the south, and the Yorkshire Dales National Park in the north. [16] The highest point is in the park is 1,873 feet (571 m), [17] and it covers an area of 460 square miles (1,200 km2). The population living inside that area of 660,000; more than twice the resident population of all of England's national parks combined. The park is also accessible within 30 minutes to 8 million people. [18] According to the chief executive of the park, it has 53 railway stations and four motorways within its boundaries. [19]

The organisation behind the proposal closed at the end of 2023. [1]

Settlements

According to Pennine Prospects and the National Character Area No. 36, the South Pennines Regional Park would encompass the following villages, towns and areas. [9] [11] [20] [note 3]

Rossendale Way Footpath Rossendale Way Footpath - geograph.org.uk - 1075652.jpg
Rossendale Way Footpath
M62 westbound, with Booth Wood Reservoir, and the summit of the M62 in the distance M62 westbound (3507874395).jpg
M62 westbound, with Booth Wood Reservoir, and the summit of the M62 in the distance

Lancashire

Greater Manchester

West Yorkshire

North Yorkshire

Notes

  1. ↑ There is a movement to create Britains' first Marine park off the coast of the Isle of Harris in the Outer Hebrides.
  2. ↑ Pennine Prospects was set up in 2005 to promote the South Pennines area and brings together six local authorities (Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Lancashire, Oldham and Rochdale) with other interested stakeholders (Natural England, Historic England and the National Trust) and the major landowners (United Utilities and Yorkshire Water).
  3. ↑ The final boundaries are undecided at the moment and so this list is not exhaustive and some places on the list may not end up in the park if it is created.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty</span> Designated area of countryside in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Yorkshire</span> County of England

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West Yorkshire is a metropolitan and ceremonial county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It borders North Yorkshire to the north and east, South Yorkshire and Derbyshire to the south, Greater Manchester to the south-west, and Lancashire to the west. The city of Leeds is the largest settlement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pennines</span> Range of uplands in Northern England

The Pennines, also known as the Pennine Chain or Pennine Hills, are a range of uplands mainly located in Northern England. Commonly described as the "backbone of England" because of its length and position, the range runs from the north Midlands to North East England, near the Anglo-Scottish border. The range starts near the valley of the River Trent to the south and extends northwards across the Peak District, South Pennines, Yorkshire Dales, and North Pennines, ending at the Tyne Gap. Beyond the gap are the Border Moors and Cheviot Hills, which are included in some definitions of the range.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yorkshire Dales</span> Upland area of the Pennines in Northern England

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Forest of Bowland</span> Upland conservation area in Lancashire, England

The Forest of Bowland, also known as the Bowland Fells and formerly the Chase of Bowland, is an area of gritstone fells, deep valleys and peat moorland, mostly in north-east Lancashire, England, with a small part in North Yorkshire. It is a western outlier of the Pennines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dark Peak</span>

The Dark Peak is the higher and wilder part of the Peak District in England, mostly forming the northern section but also extending south into its eastern and western margins. It is mainly in Derbyshire but parts are in Staffordshire, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire and South Yorkshire.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Pennines</span> Region of moorland and hills in northern England

The South Pennines is a region of moorland and hill country in northern England lying towards the southern end of the Pennines. In the west it includes the Rossendale Valley and the West Pennine Moors. It is bounded by the Greater Manchester conurbation in the west and the Bowland Fells and Yorkshire Dales to the north. To the east it is fringed by the towns of West Yorkshire whilst to the south it is bounded by the Peak District. The rural South Pennine Moors constitutes both a Site of Special Scientific Interest and Special Area of Conservation.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cow Myers (wetland)</span> Site of Special Scientific Interest in North Yorkshire, England

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hack Fall Wood</span> Site of Special Scientific Interest in North Yorkshire, England

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References

  1. 1 2 "Organisation behind The South Pennines Park to close". 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  2. ↑ "National Parks review launched". gov.uk. 27 May 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  3. ↑ Stubley, Peter (26 May 2018). "New national parks could be created as Michael Gove launches review of England's natural landscape" . The Independent. Archived from the original on 24 May 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  4. ↑ Milmo, Cahal (2 April 2009). "The Big Question: What are national parks, and why do we have so many" . The Independent. Archived from the original on 24 May 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  5. ↑ Spracken, Karl (2016). "5. Millstone Grit, Blackstone Edge; Literary Heritage and Tourism in the South Pennines, England". In Hooper, Glenn (ed.). Heritage and Tourism in Britain and Ireland (1 ed.). London: Macmillan. pp. 73–74. ISBN   978-1-137-52082-1.
  6. ↑ "England could have new national parks". BBC News. 27 May 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  7. ↑ Gove, Michael (26 May 2018). "Our National Parks are a magnificent asset that needs protecting. How can we make them even better?" . The Telegraph. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  8. ↑ Kennedy, Maev (27 May 2018). "England may get more national parks after protected areas review". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  9. 1 2 "NCA Profile: 36 Southern Pennines - NE323" (PDF). publications.naturalengland.org.uk. 2014. p. 3. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  10. ↑ "South Pennine Moors - Special Area of Conservation - SAC - Habitats Directive". jncc.defra.gov.uk. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  11. 1 2 "The campaign to establish the South Pennines as a regional park". lancashirelife.co.uk. 10 July 2013. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  12. ↑ "Conference To Explore The Landscape Of Opportunity That Is The South Pennines". yorkshiretimes.co.uk. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  13. ↑ McNamara, Felicity (11 June 2018). "'Don't forget the South Pennines', Government urged". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  14. ↑ "Pennine Prospects | Local Nature Partnership | The South Pennines Local Nature Partnership". www.pennineprospects.co.uk. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  15. ↑ Shand, Alistair (25 August 2018). "Ambitious plan for South Pennines 'regional park' moves step closer". Bradford Telegraph and Argus. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  16. ↑ Finan, Victoria (9 September 2021). "'Alternative National Park' puts South pennines in pride of place". The Yorkshire Post. p. 6. ISSN   0963-1496.
  17. ↑ "NCA Profile: 36 Southern Pennines - NE323" (PDF). publications.naturalengland.org.uk. 2014. p. 19. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  18. ↑ Aldred, Tim (8 September 2021). "460-square mile 'alternative National Park' planned for South Pennines". Lancashire Business View. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  19. ↑ Noble, Helen (17 September 2021). "South Pennines Park could blaze a trail". The Yorkshire Post. p. 13. ISSN   0963-1496.
  20. ↑ "South Pennines Map". www.southpennines.co.uk. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
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