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CNP National Parks Protector Awards Emphasise Better Access for All

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Broads Society members may recall that last year the Broads Authority’s Education Officer, Nick Sanderson, won an award for his nature recovery and community work at Barton Turf nature reserve, where an outdoor classroom has become a base for children’s education and activities.


This year, the three annual National Parks Protector Awards presented by the Campaign for National Parks on 11th December and won by the Kingsdale Head Project in the Yorkshire Dales, the Girls Do Dartmoor Project and the Penpoint Project Youth Leadership Group in Bannau Brychiniog drew particular attention to efforts being made to improve access for all.

 

Rose O'Neill, CEO of the Campaign for National Parks, opened the ceremony at the House of Lords
Rose O'Neill, CEO of the Campaign for National Parks, opened the ceremony at the House of Lords

In presenting the Marsh National Nature Award, Tony Juniper, Chair of Natural England, emphasised the benefits of better access to Protected Landscapes (National Parks, The Broads and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty). Recognising that their value has been underestimated and underfunded by successive governments, he emphasised that opinion-formers and the public need to understand and promote the benefits of wider access if change is to be achieved. This year’s CNP awards highlighted the important contributions that community groups and volunteers can make to achieving much greater inclusion.

 

Tony Juniper reminded the audience of the massive inequalities highlighted in the Glover Review, in particular the barriers that exist for ethnic minorities and people on low incomes. He described the social and health benefits that can arise from improving access to protected and nature-rich spaces and the potential efficiencies for the NHS in their treatment of the current epidemic of obesity, anxiety, depression and other challenges to our physical and mental wellbeing.

 

Footpaths are vital for access to the Broads
Footpaths are vital for access to the Broads

In the Broads, access is a very important matter, whether on foot, by bicycle or boat, and also in terms of the public transport, road and rail networks needed to reach the area in the first place. In 2003 the Broads Authority set up the independent Broads Local Access Forum to advise on issues as diverse as paddleboarding, rights of way and slipways. In the Broads Society, we actively participate in the BLAF, as well as giving support to organisations like the Ramblers by publishing regular access features in Harnser. We have also promoted the Broads Authority’s plans in collaboration with Active Travel England, to develop a Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan to make the Broads more accessible by foot and bicycle. Our mini-survey last summer (Harnser, Oct. 2024, p. 32) showed that we need more and better footpaths, more boat-launching spots and safer swimming areas.

 

The Society will continue to challenge inequitable and unnecessary barriers to access, including the narrow channel across Hickling Broad, which could, with relatively modest improvements, allow many more boaters to enjoy nature and water sports. We also highlight the very poor facilities and attitudes towards recreational navigators in one of the gateways to the Broads from the sea, the port of Great Yarmouth.

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