Shooting and National Parks

[Conor O'Gorman]

There are plans afoot for more National Parks — but what does that mean for shooting and conservation? Feedback welcome about proposals to designate more areas of England, Wales and Scotland as National Parks.

Context in the following article in Shooting Times:

https://www.shootinguk.co.uk/news/one-size-cannot-fit-all-on-national-parks-146882/

[holloway]

Very thought provoking article ,plenty of work to do there by the looks of it . 

[Dave at kelton]

An interesting article which raises issues that will need to addressed. It is not the mere designation as a National Park that is the issue so much as the regulations that go with it. With the current record of the Welsh Government and their total lack of knowledge of land management it does not bode well in the Principality. Conservation, country sports, and agriculture can work in harmony if given the opportunity. My fear is that our urban society and its Beatrix Potter view of nature will not allow that opportunity.

[oowee]

Just reading about the research into reestablishing the Temperate Rain forest in the UK and the associated need to control deer. All of this points in the right direction. 

https://lostrainforestsofbritain.org/2023/11/29/the-governments-temperate-rainforest-strategy-for-england-an-analysis/

[Conor O'Gorman]

On 28/12/2023 at 22:32, holloway said:

Very thought provoking article ,plenty of work to do there by the looks of it . 

Yes, a lot of assumptions around National Parks to be bottomed out.

On 29/12/2023 at 09:13, Dave at kelton said:

An interesting article which raises issues that will need to addressed. It is not the mere designation as a National Park that is the issue so much as the regulations that go with it. With the current record of the Welsh Government and their total lack of knowledge of land management it does not bode well in the Principality. Conservation, country sports, and agriculture can work in harmony if given the opportunity. My fear is that our urban society and its Beatrix Potter view of nature will not allow that opportunity.

Indeed. Bye-laws of all sorts can be brought into play once designations are approved and we need to ensure recognition for the fact that the unique landscapes and biodiversity of our existing 15 national parks are the result of generations of farmers, gamekeepers and other conservationists. 

On 29/12/2023 at 09:48, oowee said:

Just reading about the research into reestablishing the Temperate Rain forest in the UK and the associated need to control deer. All of this points in the right direction. 

https://lostrainforestsofbritain.org/2023/11/29/the-governments-temperate-rainforest-strategy-for-england-an-analysis/

Absolutely, the penny is dropping, albeit slowly, but going in right direction.