Life is asking difficult questions
We’re living through big challenges. Nature is under pressure. The climate is changing. Too many of us feel disconnected from the places around us, and from each other. National Parks are more than beautiful places. They are part of the answer to some of the biggest challenges we face, from restoring nature and tackling climate change, to improving our health and wellbeing and helping communities thrive. National Parks are places where answers are being found, tested and brought to life, every day.
We asked what matters to people - and found common ground
We commissioned new research with 3,000 people across England, Scotland and Wales to understand what people want from the outdoors, what matters to them now, and how they see National Parks fitting into their lives. What we found was striking: across different ages, backgrounds and experiences, four clear priorities emerged.
People want to feel healthier and happier. They want to see nature recover. They want to feel welcome and able to take part. And they want our landscapes and communities to be ready for what comes next.
- 87% think physical health is important.
- 69% care strongly about flooding and extreme weather.
- 74% care strongly about wildlife and biodiversity.
- 59% say feeling part of a community is important.
- 89% say reducing stress and pressure is important.
What if some of the answers to the biggest challenges we face are already all around us?
Across our National Parks, people are already taking action on the issues that matter to the public. Rangers, volunteers, conservationists, community organisations and young people are restoring habitats, widening access, creating opportunities to connect with nature and preparing landscapes for the future.
Our new report brings these efforts to life, sharing examples of how National Parks are helping shape a healthier, more resilient future.
Four priorities shaping life
People want space to feel better , Health and Wellbeing
In a changing and busy world, finding space to look after our health and wellbeing matters more than ever. We all find ways to feel better differently, but National Parks offer something we can all benefit from: space to slow down, get outside, connect with nature and take a little time for ourselves. Our National Parks are creating more opportunities for people to enjoy the outdoors, from accessible routes and activities to spaces where people can connect with nature and each other.
People want to see nature cared for , Nature recovery
People care about the natural world around them and want to see it protected and restored. From wildlife and wildflowers to rivers, lakes and woodlands, we want to see nature thriving, and know that healthy, connected habitats are vital for the future. Our National Parks are helping nature recover through projects that restore wetlands, support insects and wildlife, and bring local communities closer to nature.
People want to know they can take part , Access and communities
People want to feel that National Parks are places they can access, enjoy and play a part in. That means removing practical barriers, creating more accessible ways to explore, and helping people feel confident getting involved - whether through volunteering, community projects or simply discovering somewhere new. Our National Parks are working with communities to make the outdoors more accessible by creating opportunities for more people, including young people and volunteers.
People want a future ready for what comes next , Resilience and readiness
Flooding, extreme weather, pressure on water supplies and wildfire can make the future feel immediate. We need to be ready for the challenges ahead, helping our landscapes and communities prepare and adapt to a changing climate. Our National Parks are helping build resilience by restoring peatlands, growing woodlands, protecting water, reducing wildfire risk and creating landscapes that are better able to withstand change.
Fifteen National Parks, fifteen Answers
Click to discover each National Park’s answer.
Complete our survey
We're still learning what people care about. Tell us what matters the most to you and help us build our National Parks and a future for everyone.
Action is taking place everyday across our landscapes
Across the UK’s National Parks, people are turning ideas into action every day.
Restoring nature. Supporting communities. Helping people live healthier lives. And preparing for a changing climate.
Because when we face big challenges, National Parks can be part of the answer. They’re more than beautiful landscapes. They’re places where nature inspires action.
The Answer Is National Parks. Click the link in our bio to learn more 💚
#NationalParksUK
Spooky season is in full force across our National Parks! 🎃
From eerie encounters to magical misty landscapes, our National Parks look wonderfully frightful.
Keep swiping for some spooky seasonal finds…
1. Pumpkin at the ready at Dartmoor National Park.
2. Visitors enjoying a frightfully fun Halloween Trail at Aysgarth Falls, Yorkshire Dales National Park. Photo by Stephen Garnett.
3. A watchful crow leading the way perched on a signpost at South Downs National Park. Photo by Colin Mitchell.
4. St Benet’s Abbey emerging from the atmospheric autumn mist at the Broads National Park.
5. A beaver caught in a mesmerising moment under the cover of darkness at Cairngorms National Park.
6. Devil’s Fingers (Clathrus archeri) reaching their eerie tendrils through the grass at New Forest National Park. Photo by Bryan Wilson.
7. Thirlwall Castle standing proudly beneath a spectacular, star-filled night sky at Northumberland National Park.
#NationalParks #Halloween #SpookySeason
Dartmoor National Park celebrates 75 years today, but its story holds more than 10,000 years of human history.
Some of its prehistoric remains date back to the Bronze Age, and the longest prehistoric stone row in the world can be found on Dartmoor.
Dartmoor truly is a place where thousands of years of history remain woven into the landscape. 💚
#Dartmoor #DartmoorNationalPark #NationalParksUK
You don`t have to wait for nightfall to experience the magic of darkness. ✨🌙
Now the nights are drawing in, “Dusking", a traditional Dutch twilight ritual, could teach us how to appreciate the darkening evenings.
As the golden hour fades into the blue hour, the landscape begins it quiet transformation. Colours soften, sounds change, and a hidden world starts to emerge. Bats take to the skies, moths begin their nightly journeys, and familiar places reveal a completely different character.
While the tradition of Dusking may have begun in the Netherlands and re-introduced in Amsterdam, shared experiences are spreading across Europe.
Places like @northyorkmoors are holding dusking events as part of their Dark Skies Festivals, inviting people to slow down and reconnect with nature together.
Have you ever tried Dusking? Tell us below 👇
📸
Danby Beacon, North York Moors National Park (Russell Burton)
Sutton Bank at sunset, North York Moors National Park (Oliver Sherratt)
Sutton Bank at dusk, North York Moors National Park (Steve Bell)
North York Moors National Park (Steve Bell)
The clocks go back on Sunday, which means more darkness. ⏰ ⭐
But darkness isn’t always a bad thing. Darker nights bring many benefits for our natural environment, supporting wildlife and helping nature thrive.
Stargazing beneath our dark skies also connects us to centuries of traditions and our enduring fascination with the stars. ✨
Our National Parks are home to some of the darkest skies in the UK. By protecting these special places, we can help preserve the dark skies that benefit both people and nature.
#DarkSkies #NationalParks #ClocksGoBack
👻 Strange sights and spooky stories await in the @Southdownsnp
From mist-shrouded woods and twisted trees to castles beneath the moon, the National Park is home to many eerie spots.
And across our 15 National Parks, there are tales that have endured for centuries, legends still passed down today, and histories with dark chapters.
📸
Ghost in South Downs - Luis Fernando Mancilla
Iping tree - Richard Murray
Harvest moon - Andrew Gambling Photography
Devil’s Dyke - Sam Moore
Stamner Park - Finn Curry
#SouthDowns #Halloween #NationalParks
🎉 Happy Exmoor Day, @exmoornp!
Today, Exmoor National Park celebrates years of connecting people with nature, wildlife and the great outdoors.
From England’s largest wild red deer herd and native ponies to Europe’s first International Dark Sky Reserve and dramatic landscapes, Exmoor is a place full of life, history and discovery.
Its landscapes, wildlife and historic villages bring people closer to nature and create opportunities to explore, connect and enjoy the benefits of being outdoors.
Here’s to Exmoor – and many more adventures to come! 💚
#Exmoor #ExmoorNationalPark #NationalParksUK
Happy birthday @parc_eryri 🎂
From its towering peaks and sweeping valleys to its rich heritage, Eryri (Snowdonia) is a place that means so much to so many people.
It`s a landscape full of stories, shaped by generations of people and home to some of Wales` most treasured places, from the summit of Yr Wyddfa to the quieter corners.
Today, we`re celebrating everything that makes Eryri unique, from the people and traditions that give it its character to the ongoing work to protect its landscapes and wildlife.
Share your favourite memories of Eryri in the comments! 💬
📸Ogwen Valley, Snowdonia @cinqueportsphotography
#Eryri #EryriNationalPark #TheAnswerIsNationalParks
