75 years since the Lake District was designated a National Park in a moment of national optimism, we ask our expert panel (Julian Glover, Tiffany Hunt, Tim Farron, Rose O’Neill) why interest in our protected landscapes has waned in Westminster – even as visitor pressures mount – and what a renewed vision for world-leading protected landscapes might look like. 

In this Countrystride Live panel discussion, we will talk about the historic political context that gave rise to our national parks, and the tensions and omissions built into the enabling legislation. We will move on to consider the pressures on protected landscapes today – rising visitor numbers, nature loss and climate change, reduced funding and political inertia – then discuss what changes, to funding, purposes and governance, might help build renewed energy, focus and confidence in managing some of the world’s most cherished landscapes.

Our panel:

Julian Glover OBE: Author and journalist Julian Glover led the Glover Review of 2019, which evaluated England's National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The first government-commissioned review of National Landscapes in a generation, the report gave 27 recommendations for reforming protected landscapes, including strengthened statutory purposes around nature and a night under the stars for every child. The ground-breaking Review – widely welcomed by national park bodies and campaigners – has been watered-down by successive governments.

Tiffany Hunt MBE: Tiffany Hunt has spent a lifetime engaged with the north of England’s landscapes, including as Director of Northumbria, Yorkshire and the North West regions of the National Trust, as chair of the Heritage Lottery Fund North West and, most recently, as Chair of the Lake District National Park Authority (2022–2026). Tiffany lives in the South Lakes and volunteers in a range of roles, including at Cartmel Priory and York Minster.

Tim Farron MP: Member of Parliament for Westmorland and Lonsdale since 2005 and the Lib Dem spokesperson for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Tim represents communities in both the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks. As Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Hill Farming, he has taken a long-term interest in upland farming, and is known for championing climate issues, food security, environmental standards and clean waterways. We will quiz Tim about the priorities of nature and protected landscapes in Westminster. In his spare time, Tim is a keen fell-runner.

Dr Rose O’Neill: Chief Executive of the Campaign for National Parks – which has campaigned since 1936 to secure the future of National Parks in England and Wales – Rose’s background is in environmental campaigning, policy and research. A member of Natural England’s Landscape Advisory Panel, she previously led the UK rivers programme at WWF. From a working class background, Rose has a particular interest in creating opportunities for everyone to connect with nature.

The discussion – with contributions invited from the audience – will be hosted by David Felton, producer of the Countrystride podcast, award-winning Lakes-based publisher and co-author of Forty Fells. Audience members will be able to access the Rheged Forty Fells exhibition (free admission) in the main Gallery, between 5pm - 6.30pm.

Two 40 minute session with 20 minute interval.

Photograph courtesy of David Felton.