I’ve always been proud of the way Britain has preserved its national parks in the past. On an Island with a high population density we have protected areas that give us the chance to experience some wilderness. However, our recent obsession with austerity (coupled with a near pathological fear of tax) is having some large effects on many areas of British life.
Did you know, for instance, that the budget to our national parks has been drastically cut? So much so that some are now being forced to sell off some of the nationally owned land just to make ends meet. It is claimed that this will not effect access to such land but given the slippery slopes that we seem to be good at stepping out on these days I can’t help but wonder if the assurances can be wholeheartedly believed.
I think we will all want to get such cuts into a perspective of other cuts made to our social services (not least cuts to youth work provision) but given that our National Parks generate far more income for local economies and the nation than they ever cost to run (see research on this here) and that research now backs up what Christians have always said – wilderness is good for the soul – forcing land sales by cutting meager budgets is a false long term economy.
If you would like to support the campaign to support our national parks you can sign a petition at
http://speakout.38degrees.org.uk/campaigns/42
Is this the end of our National Parks?