About us
One big family
There are 15 members of the National Parks family in the UK and each one is looked after by its own National Park Authority. We all work together as the Association of National Park Authorities (ANPA).
See the Learning About section to find out:
what is a national park
who looks after National Parks
the history of National Parks
The UK’s 15 National Parks are part of a global family of over 113,000 protected areas, covering 149 million square kilometres or 6% of the Earth’s surface. We are linked to Europe through the EUROPARC Federation – a network of European protected areas with 360 member organisations in 37 countries.
There are 10 National Parks in England, 3 in Wales and 2 in Scotland, they are:
- England - Dartmoor, Exmoor, Lake District, New Forest, Northumberland, North York Moors, Peak District, the Yorkshire Dales, the South Downs and the Broads which has equivalent status to a National Park.
- Wales - Brecon Beacons, Pembrokeshire Coast and Snowdonia
- Scotland - Cairngorms and Loch Lomond and the Trossachs.
Not ours - but ours to look after
Each National Park is administered by its own National Park Authority. They are independent bodies funded by central government to:
- conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage; and
- promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of National Parks by the public.
If there’s a conflict between these two purposes, conservation takes priority. In carrying out these aims, National Park Authorities are also required to seek to foster the economic and social well-being of local communities within the National Park.
The Broads Authority has a third purpose, protecting the interests of navigation, and under the Broads Act 1988 all three purposes have equal priority.
The Scottish National Parks' objectives are to also promote the sustainable use of natural resources, the sustainable economic and social development of local communities and more of a focus on recreation.
See the looking after section to find out how we work to conserve and promote enjoyment in the National Parks
Elected members and staff
Each National Park Authority has a number of unpaid appointed members, selected by the Secretary of State, local councils and parish councils. The role of members is to provide leadership, scrutiny and direction for the National Park Authority.
There are also a number of paid staff who carry out the work necessary to run the National Park. Our working for us section shows the diverse types of jobs National Park staff do, from rangers and ecologists to planners and education teams.
The Association of National Park Authorities
UK ANPA brings together the 15 National Park Authorities in the UK to raise the profile of the National Parks and to promote joint working. Country associations for the English and Welsh National Parks represent the National Park Authorities to English and Welsh governments.
Find out about UK ANPA and the country associations
Further information
International
UK
- Campaign for National Parks - A charity that campaigns for National Parks in England and Wales
National Parks
- Brecon Beacons National Park - Work of the Authority
- Broads Authority - The Authority
- Cairngorms National Park - The Authority
- Dartmoor National Park - About us
- Exmoor National Park - General information
- Lake District National Park - About us
- Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park - The Authority
- New Forest National Park - About us
- Northumberland National Park - About us
- North York Moors National Park - How the Authority works
- Peak District National Park - Work of the Authority
- Pembrokeshire Coast National Park - What we do
- Snowdonia National Park - The Authority
- South Downs National Park - About the Authority
- Yorkshire Dales National Park - The National Park Authority
