Two of the most popular national parks in England, the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District, are set to expand their territory to create the largest area of protected and continuous land for a national park in the country.
In 2012, Natural England, the government's legal adviser on the protection of England's nature, released variation orders to extend the land coverage of these two parks. After thorough analysis and public inquiry, the expansion is scheduled to start in August 2016.
The Yorkshire Dales, an upland area of the Pennines in Northern England, will be increased by almost 24 percent while Lake District, a mountainous region in North West England, will be increased by 3 percent. This extension will bring the parks near the M6 corridor.
"The Dales and the Lakes have some of our country's finest landscapes, beautiful vistas and exciting wildlife," Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss said.
These parks are part of the country's national identity. The move will ensure the protection of more space for the coming generations to treasure.
Over 90 million tourists visit the parks, making them attractions that contribute to the economy. Thus, efforts are made to help in the maintenance and safeguarding of these national assets.
The extension will include an additional area of 27 square miles for Lake District. It will stretch toward the east, spanning from Birkbeck Fells Common to Whinfell Common. Also, the extension will include the southern areas from Helsington Barrows to Sizergh Fell, part of Sizergh Castle and Lyth valley.
Yorkshire Dales will be extended by 161 square miles to the north in areas of Orton Fells, northern Howgill Fells, Wild Boar Fell and Mallerstang and south toward Barbon, Middleton, Casterton, Leck Fells, part of Firbank Fell, River Lune and other fells to the west of River Lune.
In the past, these two parks had been earning more than $6 billion in tourism. They expect the extension project to boost tourism as these areas will join the list of protected lands by the government.
"I very much welcome the Secretary of State's decision to extend the Yorkshire Dales and Lake District National Parks in line with the recommendations made by Natural England," Natural England's Chairman Andrew Sells said.
These parks would bring "natural capital" to the country as they "represent England's most treasured" landscapes and assets, he said.
"With international appeal, their stunning landscapes stand out as a beacon to the people who come to enjoy them whilst their intrinsic value drives the communities, businesses and biodiversity they support," he added.
The national parks have less than a year to make the changes and extend their territory.
"We're going to think about what kind of improvements we might want to make to the rights of way network, to make sure that visitors to these fantastic new areas that have been announced today can walk with the same expectations that they have for rights of way in the rest of the Lake District National Park," said Richard Leafe of Lake District National Park.
