Introduction to National Parks UK

The UK National Park Family

There are 15 National Parks in the UK - each one is looked after by its own National Park Authority and we all work together as National Parks UK. The UK’s National Park family is 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 - Broads, Dartmoor, Exmoor, Lake District, New Forest, Northumberland, North York Moors, Peak District, South Downs and the Yorkshire Dales

Wales - Brecon Beacons, Pembrokeshire Coast and Snowdonia

Scotland - Cairngorms and Loch Lomond & The Trossachs.

Each National Park is administered by its own National Park Authority. They are independent bodies funded by 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.

In carrying out these aims, National Park Authorities also have a duty to foster the economic and social well-being of local communities within the National Park. The Broads Authority has an additional purpose – to protect the interests of navigation on the Broads.

National Parks UK is a Private Company Limited by Guarantee.The 15 Chairmen of the UK National Park Authorities – as advised by their 15 Chief Executive Officers - come together to share experience and manage joint training & development projects, public relations activities and special events. National Parks UK employs a full time Director – based in the Brecon Beacons NPA offices, an External Relations Manager based in Exmoor National Park and secondees from the National Park family to work on projects as required.

The remit of National Parks UK is:

  • to promote the 15 National Parks in the UK as beacons for sustainable development;
  • to raise the profile, understanding and relevance of these protected landscapes;
  • to facilitate training and development opportunities for NPA Members and staff;
  • to foster closer working with the growing UK and international family of protected landscapes”.

National Parks UK is not a lobbying body, nor does it seek to speak on behalf of the National Park family. This role is undertaken at a country level by its sister organisations, National Parks England (NPE) and National Parks Wales (NPW), with whom NPUK works closely.

National Parks UK’s key role is to engage with the public, answering queries about National Parks as a group and promoting them as special places. NPUK co-ordinates a number of public relations initiatives such as National Parks Week and the National Parks Virtual Classroom which forms part of the National Parks Website. NPUK also provides support and training/development opportunities for the Members of National Park Authorities who are either appointed by the Secretary of State/Welsh Government/Scottish Executive or nominated by the local authorities/district and parish councils/unitary authorities associated with the area of the National Park itself.

NPUK works to a three year business plan agreed by the Chairmen and Convenors of the family of National Parks. The business plan is funded by subscriptions from the National Park family and project funding from Natural Resources Wales.

For further details about our work please visit: