Press release: 75 years of National Parks marked in the Yorkshire Dales

Bainbridge, 18 November 2024 

The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority and the national youth charity, YHA (England & Wales), today hosted a celebration marking the 75^th anniversary of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act.

Around 50 guests gathered at Malham youth hostel, close to the village of Kirkby Malham where the legislation was conceived, to witness the unveiling of a Yorkshire Society blue plaque to John Dower.

Chief guests were the children and grandchildren of John Dower. Born in Ilkley, Dower was a civil servant and architect who, while living in Malhamdale in the 1940s, wrote the seminal report which led to the creation of National Parks in the UK. It was a parliamentary paper setting out the purposes of National Parks and identifying the areas within England and Wales which could be considered for National Park status.  The report, “National Parks in England and Wales”, was published in 1945 and led to the development and passing of the Act four years later.

John Dower died at the age of 47 just before the passing of the Act, which became part of the re-build of Britain following the trauma of the Second World War, providing a level of protection for the nation’s finest landscapes and an opening up of the countryside.

Also present at the event was Baroness Hayman, the minister responsible for access at the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), as well as representatives of Natural England, the National Association for National Landscapes, Campaign for National Parks, Field Studies Council and the Open Spaces Society.

The celebration happened just two days after the 70^th anniversary of the date on which the Yorkshire Dales National Park was established in 1954.

Robin Dower, the youngest of John and Pauline Dower’s three children, was a boy in shorts when a photograph was taken in 1948 at the entrance of YHA Malham (see “Archive Photo”, caption below).  At the event he posed for a photograph in the same place, beside the blue plaque.

In a short speech he said his parents, fearing the outbreak of war, came to Kirkby Malham in 1939, and that his father, invalided out of the war, was appointed by Sir John Reith, minister of town and country planning, to draft a report on National Parks.

Robin Dower said:  “As my father died in 1947 when I was eight I cannot really remember much about his work on the National Parks Report, except through the lens of my mother’s work to fulfil his vision after her appointment in 1949 as a member, and later Deputy Chair, of the National Parks Commission. The friends and colleagues with whom my father had campaigned before the war for the creation of National Parks and the establishment of wider access to the countryside remained a huge and loyal circle of friends for my mother, greatly encouraging her and offering her hospitality both in London where the Commission’s office was her base, and out in or near the National Parks on her frequent field visits to determine boundaries or the impact of proposed quarrying, road development or forestry planting. She was meticulous in presenting evidence at public inquiries and was glad to be able to stay with friends within easy reach of a site.”

Defra Minister Baroness Sue Hayman said: “These landmark laws were instrumental in improving access to nature, enshrining the rights of people in post-war Britain to be able to experience the many benefits of spending time in green spaces. Today’s event on the 75^th anniversary of National Parks and National Landscapes is an opportunity to celebrate these special places, the people that made it happen and look ahead to their future. This Government will make our Protected Landscapes greener and wilder, so they are enjoyed for years to come.”

David Butterworth, Chief Executive Officer of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, said: “It is humbling to recognise and celebrate the life and work of one of your heroes, and, because of John Dower, to proudly claim that National Parks in England and Wales were made here in the Yorkshire Dales. John came up with a vision for National Parks inspired by the environs of Malhamdale. He knew there was a popular desire for National Parks in a post-war nation longing for access to the countryside, and his wife, Pauline – a great conservationist in her own right – worked tenaciously for decades after his death to see the vision become a reality. The story of the Dowers deserves this recognition, in this 75th anniversary year of the National Parks Act, and 70th anniversary of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.”

James Blake, Chief Executive of YHA (England & Wales) said: “I am delighted that we were able to recognise such a significant anniversary in history at Malham youth hostel. It was not only designed by John Dower but it was the first purpose-built youth hostel in Yorkshire. Today we have five youth hostels in the Yorkshire Dales which are much loved by the thousands of schools and young people and their families that visit them each year. YHA was one of the organisations that commissioned the landmark Dower Report that led to the Access to the Countryside Act and subsequent establishment of the National Parks. Half of our hostels are in National Parks and their foundation has been critical in enabling us to help millions of young people access these beautiful spaces.  Through innovative initiatives like Generation Green, giving thousands of young people opportunities to connect to nature, the unique relationship between YHA and National Parks is thriving as much today as it was 75 years ago.”

Jayne Butler, Executive Director at National Parks England, said: “Seventy-five years ago Britain’s National Parks were intended to play a huge role in ensuring access to nature and improved health and wellbeing.  They are still serving this purpose today.  We need to address the physical and mental health of people, grow our economy and shift our way of life to address the challenges of the decline in nature and the climate emergency. National Parks were part of the answer in 1949 and they are still part of the answer today to the crises in health, nature and climate.”

The event included an opportunity to see the work of young people, tomorrow’s conservationists, in action, through the Generation Green initiative. There was also a walk led by Malham farmer Neil Heseltine, a former Chair of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority and National Parks England. He shared insights into his work to increase biodiversity and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

For more information, please contact the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority’s Media Officer Andrew Fagg (Andrew.Fagg@yorkshiredales.org.uk) or Communications Manager Mark Sadler (Mark.Sadler@yorkshiredales.org.uk).

About the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority

The Yorkshire Dales National Park is one of 15 National Parks in the UK. It is administered by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, which has two main purposes: “to conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage” and “to promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the National Park”. In carrying out these purposes, the Authority has a duty “to seek to foster the economic and social well being of local communities”. The National Park Authority comprises 25 members, made up of unitary, county and city councillors and members appointed by the Secretary of State for the Environment to represent parishes or in recognition of their specialist skills or knowledge.

All of our work is guided by the vision for the future of the National Park set out in the Yorkshire Dales National Park Management Plan: “Through their passion for this special place, local people and businesses will keep the Yorkshire Dales National Park a thriving area. Its unique cultural landscape will be treasured for its stunning scenery, exceptional heritage and wonderful wildlife, and every year millions of people will be inspired to be a part of it.”

About YHA (England & Wales)

YHA (England & Wales) is a leading youth charity with a 94-year history of making travel and adventure accessible to all, especially young people. Operating multiple locations throughout England and Wales, YHA offers a unique range of affordable accommodation including youth hostels, camping and cabins in rural, coastal and city locations.

John Dower designed Malham, Eskdale and Bellingham youth hostels. The Dower family has a long history with YHA. His marriage to Pauline in 1929, linked him to the Trevelyan family. Pauline’s uncle was YHA’s first president, the popular historian and academic G.M. Trevelyan. Dower’s brother, Arthur, joined YHA’s West Riding regional group in 1933 and was its chairman from 1935 to the outbreak of war. In 1951, after he had been YHA’s treasurer, he became YHA’s national chairman. Pauline was YHA President 1981 – 2, the only woman to take that role. Their son Michael served as YHA Vice President and YHA Ambassador, a role he took on with dedication right up until his death.

Established in 1930, YHA’s charitable objective remains as relevant in 2024 as it was in 1930 – ‘To help all, especially young people of limited means, to a greater knowledge, love and care of the countryside, and appreciation of the cultural values of towns and cities, particularly by providing youth hostels or other simple accommodation for them in their travels, and thus to promote their health, recreation and education.’

YHA’s charitable purpose is at the forefront of its 10-year strategy – Adventure. For the first time and a lifetime. Our 10-year strategy for connecting people and places. Access for all is at the heart of the strategy which will see YHA reaching more people and growing its impact, with a particular focus on those who could benefit the most. It will also establish YHA as a leading national charity and social enterprise. The strategy can be viewed and downloaded here

Through YHA’s places, programmes and activities, it creates opportunities for everybody to connect to nature, the outdoors, culture and heritage. Welcoming solo travellers, families, groups and schools to its amazing properties in exceptional locations, YHA delivers memorable, meaningful experiences that have a measurable impact. YHA’s impact is documented annually in an Impact Review. The 2022/23 Annual Reportcan be downloaded here

YHA is leading the 16-strong Access Unlimited coalition which includes the 10 National Parks, Girlguiding, Scouts, Field Studies Council, The Outward Bound Trust and National Landscapes. Together, the not-for-profit organisations took collective action and delivered the innovative 16-month Defra-funded Generation Green project between 2020 – 2021. The project connected more than 115,000 young people to nature, created and saved jobs, and built an aspirant workforce for a green recovery.  In 2024 Defra awarded a further £4.5million to Access Unlimited to fund Generation Green 2. By the end of the project next spring, Generation Green 2 will have delivered more than 41,500 experiences focused on nature connection and outdoor learning to young people who would otherwise be the least likely demographic in the country to spend time in the nation’s most beautiful landscapes.

Many of YHA’s sites are in stunning heritage properties: including a medieval castle (YHA St Briavels Castle); an Elizabethan manor house (YHA Wilderhope Manor); a Victorian mock gothic mansion (YHA Castleton Losehill Hall) and a medieval friary (YHA Beverley Friary).

YHA prides itself on providing affordable, contemporary accommodation and a life-enriching, social experience which differs from a hotel stay.

Through access to travel, heritage, culture, outdoors and nature, YHA aims to improve outcomes related to health, wellbeing and life chances for young people and families, particularly those with challenging lives.

YHA is a leading provider of residential school trips, with more Learning Outside the Classroom (LOtC) accredited sites than any other provider. Committed to quality outdoor education, YHA champions the national #BrilliantResidentials campaign.

To see the difference that YHA makes to the lives of young people and their families, visit YHA’s YouTube channel.

Further information about YHA can be found at yha.org.uk

Follow YHA on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

For press enquiries, please contact:

Anna Melton

In the Works PR

07837 108559 / 01246 386480

anna@intheworkspr.co.uk