In September 2011, Natural England’s Board confirmed that it would be recommending extensions to the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Park boundaries: the public now has six weeks to comment on the plans before Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman makes her final decision.

The public are now invited to make representations (whether to object, support or suggest amendments) on the proposals to extend the Park boundaries, directly to the Secretary of State by 16 March 2012.  Having considered all the responses, she will then decide whether to confirm the Variation Orders, maps and boundary descriptions or whether to make modifications to the proposals. 

In the Yorkshire Dales National Park the recommended changes relate to an area of approximately 418 square kilometres in Cumbria and Lancashire, in and around

• The northern Howgill Fells, Wild Boar Fell, Mallerstang and part of the Orton Fells (all in Eden District)
• Middleton, Barbon, Casterton and Leck Fells, part of Firbank Fell, part of the Lune Valley and fells to the west (in the Districts of South Lakeland and Lancaster City)

In the Lake District National Park the recommended changes relate to an area of approximately 70 square kilometres in the Cumbria, in and around

• Birkbeck Fells Common, Bretherdale, Borrowdale, Whinfell, Grayrigg and Dillicar Commons and adjacent land (in Eden District and South Lakeland District) and
• Helsington Barrows to Sizergh Fell and part of the Lyth Valley and land to the North of Sizergh (in South Lakeland District).

The documents describing these proposals can be viewed online and at 18 locations in and around the project area until 16 March 2012.  

Until 16 March 2012 there will be an opportunity for anyone wishing to make an objection or representation to the Orders to sent these in writing to:
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs,
Protected Landscapes Team,
Zone 1/09, Temple Quay House,
2 The Square,
Temple Quay,
Bristol
BS1 6EB 

You can also support the campaign to extend the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks by filling in this online response, which sends a direct letter to Defra and a parallel letter to your MP.

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