National Parks

Managing sensitive environments

It may seem like a recipe for failure if you attempt to protect and conserve valued areas of the environment while, at the same time, trying to attract more visitors and promote enjoyment of the countryside. But that is the balancing act that managers of National Parks are asked to achieve, as they aim to resolve potential conflicts of interest within their boundaries

Cairngorms National Park

The UK population continues to grow and there is pressure for more housing and better transport. However, there are areas of the UK that have special protection and planning regulations. These are the National Parks of England, Wales and Scotland. Log on to www.nationalparks.gov.uk and from the menu bar at the top select <Visiting>, then click on <Maps>. Select the map on the right, which opens up a PDF of the distribution of National Parks throughout the UK. The map also shows main cities and motorways.

Which are the largest and the smallest National Parks? Which National Park is likely to be accessible to the largest number of visitors?