NPUK Youth Voice
National Parks Youth Voice
The UK’s first-ever Youth Voice Conference, held in the picturesque Peak District National Park last year, was a groundbreaking event that brought together Youth Voice representatives from across all UK National Parks. The event served as a platform for these young leaders to address crucial issues, with a primary focus on communication, climate, and ensuring their voices are heard for a sustainable future. Workshops were one of the central objectives of the conference, empowering young attendees with the skills and confidence to effectively express their thoughts and concerns. These workshops aimed to equip our Youth Voice Reps with the tools needed to make a meaningful impact on the decisions that shape their future, as well as building strong networks with other youth representatives and professionals from across the UK.
The conference marked a historic moment as the first gathering of youth representatives from National Parks. To ensure that the voices of the youth were not only heard but translated into tangible actions. Their vision is to contribute to meaningful policy changes, advocate for environmental sustainability, and bring about a more inclusive and diverse approach to decision-making. Young representatives came together to build the foundations of a more inclusive, diverse, and sustainable future for themselves and generations to come. Their passion, determination, and commitment to change were the driving forces behind this historic gathering. You can find the video from the conference below, or the Welsh subtitled version here.
Creating a lasting legacy
Following the successful launch of last year’s Youth Voice conference, in August this year, 38 young individuals hailing from various regions, including Scotland, the UK, and Europe, gathered for the Cairngorms Youth Climate Camp. This event saw participation from National Parks, EUROPARC, and Scottish Youth Local Action Groups (LAG). The Cairngorms Youth LAG played a significant role in commissioning this event, with program development being a collaborative effort between the Cairngorms Youth Action Team and Cairngorms National Park Authority staff.
The camp featured a lineup of activities, including workshops, field trips, and outdoor adventures, all centered around the themes of nature and climate crises. The program was organized around three distinct days: Climate and Nature Crisis; A day dedicated to exploring the pressing issues of climate change and its impact on the natural world, Wild Adventure and Nature Connection; Participants enjoyed immersive experiences in the wilderness, fostering a deeper connection with nature and Youth Action; The camp culminated in a day focused on empowering young individuals to take action and make a positive difference in their communities and beyond. You can find full details and Executive summary of the Climate Camp here.
Our Youth Voice Leaders
Stories from Green Leaders , Discover more (opens in a new tab)
Here are just a few of the Green Leaders who have benefitted from our Generation Green careers skills and engagement programmes and some of those who have helped them.
Youth Voice stories , Discover More (opens in a new tab)
The UK’s National Parks are putting policy into action. Here are some stories from Young Leaders about how that happens.
The people you work and learn from are either professional rangers, environmentalists or volunteers who are older and have amazing knowledge and experience. You have to adapt and absorb as much as you can.
Ready to take the next step?
Apprenticeships , Start your journey (opens in a new tab)
Links to information, opportunities and vacancies.
Volunteer , Discover (opens in a new tab)
Start your journey with National Parks. Discover more about our volunteering vacancies throughout England, Scotland and Wales.
Discover more
Green Beacons (opens in a new tab)
Green Beacons supports outdoor educators and youth leaders to be inspirational figures who light the way for young people to work in the Green Economy.
Green Shoots (opens in a new tab)
Green Shoots supports activities, learning and outreach programmes that connect children and young people to nature and the outdoors.
Green Leaders (opens in a new tab)
Green Leaders is about giving young people the opportunity – today – to take a leadership role in caring for and protecting our National Parks, nature and the environment.
15 National Parks. One shared challenge. Our climate is changing, and with it comes an increased risk of wildfire across our landscapes.
That’s why we’ve committed to taking action through our new Wildfire Management Position Statement. Together, the National Parks will work to support nature recovery to help manage wildfire risk, plan for and strengthen wildfire response and coordination, improve risk management and preparedness, and share clear, consistent public messaging.
But we can’t do it alone.
Communities, organisations, land managers and visitors all have a role to play in reducing wildfire risk. By working together, we can help protect our National Parks and prepare for a future where hotter, drier weather may increase the risk of wildfire.
Read the full statement by clicking on the link in our bio 🔗
Photos:
Slide 1 - Fighting the Glenmore wildfire, © Ed Smith. Slide 2 - Fighting the Glenmore wildfire, © Malcolm Smith. Slide 3 - View across Loch Morlich during Glenmore wildfire, July 2026, © Brenna Jessie. Slide 4 - Fighting the Glenmore wildfire, © Malcolm Smith. Slide 5 - View from the cab of a tractor aiding in fighting the wildfire in the Cairngorms National Park, CPNA. Slide 5 - Firefighting vehicles at the Glenmore wildfire, © Malcolm Smith.
#Wildfires #NationalParksUK
It’s not every day you get to see one of our National Parks in biscuit form on @britishbakeoff!
Last night, The Great British Bake Off contestant @itsdoctoryan created a beautiful biscuit mosaic inspired by the Broads National Park, perfectly capturing the view at St Benet’s Mill, Thurne.
And it wasn’t just a feast for the eyes as the mosaic was made using treacle and ginger, honey and lemon, cocoa and malted milk, and pistachio biscuits.
Two great things combined: a beautiful National Park view and delicious biscuits. What could be better than that? 💚
Photo: Channel 4
#GBBO #BakeOff #NorfolkBroads @broadsnationalpark
You’ve likely heard of one - but what does it actually do?
Our 15 Parks wouldn’t be able to function without the authorities working behind the scenes to keep them running.
And each authority relies on people. People within the community, volunteers, staff and members. People that run businesses, or partner as organisations. People that are skilled and knowledgeable in a variety of areas from wildlife to accessibility.
Our National Parks are full of people and action, and it’s the Authorities that bring them all together.
💚
#NationalParksUK #NationalParkAuthorities
The Yorkshire Dales has one of the highest concentrations of caves and caverns of any of our 15 National Parks - a whole landscape hiding beneath the ground.
Our National Parks don’t just protect and preserve the landscapes we see every day. They also help care for historic and unique places discovered by our ancestors, like Ingleborough Cave and Gaping Gill, both of which were shrouded in myth and legend until they were explored by Victorians in the 1800s.
There’s so much more to our National Parks than meets the eye and sometimes, quite literally beneath the surface 👀
#YorkshireDales #GapingGill #Ingleborough
A week on from National Parks UK’s Big Volunteer Weekend, we’re still celebrating the people who make a difference across our National Parks.
Last weekend, hundreds of people came together across all 15 National Parks to give their time, share their skills and support our landscapes.
But volunteering in our National Parks doesn’t happen just one weekend a year. All year round, volunteers play an incredible variety of roles – from leading guided walks and supporting education, to conservation, planting and caring for our landscapes.
Every volunteer makes a valuable contribution to protecting our natural and cultural heritage. We simply couldn’t do what we do without you. 💚
So, to all our volunteers: thank you for your time, energy, enthusiasm and everything you bring to our National Parks.
If you know someone who volunteers in a National Park, help us spread the thanks by sharing this post. 🌿
#Volunteers #NationalParks #NationalParksUK
Mae’r Bele yn un o famaliaid prinnaf Cymru, ond mae eu niferoedd yn tyfu yn raddol. Mae hynny’n newyddion da i’n coetiroedd ac i’r Parciau Cenedlaethol, sy’n darparu rhai o’r cynefinoedd pwysicaf ar gyfer bywyd gwyllt ledled Cymru a Phrydain.
Ym Mannau Brycheiniog, mae’r prosiect adfer wedi gosod blychau nythu yn y coed, ac mae gwaith monitro wedi nodi presenoldeb y Bele, gan gynnwys grwpiau teuluol. Mae’r ffilm arbennig hon yn dangos un ohonynt ar waith. 🐾
Mae’n atgof hyfryd o’r hyn sy’n bosibl pan ddaw coetiroedd iach a gwaith cadwraeth arbenigol at ei gilydd i roi’r gofod sydd ei angen ar rywogaethau prin i wella.
Pine Martens are one of Wales’ rarest mammals, but they’re slowly making a comeback. That’s good news for our woodlands, and for National Parks, which provide some of the most important habitats for wildlife across Wales and Britain.
In Bannau Brycheiniog (the Brecon Beacons), the recovery project has installed treetop den boxes, with monitoring identifying pine martens, including family groups. This special footage shows one in action. 🐾
It’s a lovely reminder of what can happen when healthy woodlands and specialist conservation work come together to give rare species the space they need to recover.
#BreconBeacons #BannauBrycheiniog #PineMartins #Wales
It’s the Autumn Equinox 🍂
Our National Parks are always changing in time with the rhythm of nature, but this becomes particularly noticeable when autumn arrives.
Deer begin to rut, spiders’ cobwebs glisten in the fresh light, fungi become more prominent, and leaves begin to change colour.
What changes have you noticed so far? 🧡
#Autumn #AutumnEquinox #NationalParks
“You look after the National Park not for yourself, but for people who are coming, the ones who are following you.”
These are the words of Ron Wood, who has been volunteering for the Lake District National Park for over 60 years. His story reflects the vital role volunteering plays across our National Parks: keeping them thriving, communities invested, and people connected to and caring for our landscapes.
Over the decades, Ron’s incredible journey has seen him remain steadfast in his commitment through droughts, hand, foot and mouth disease, and the ever-changing rhythms of nature. Through it all, one thing has remained constant: his dedication to looking after the environment for those who come after him.
You can read Ron`s full story by clicking the link in our bio or learn more about volunteering at nationalparks.uk/volunteering 🔗
📸Photos by @lakedistrictnpa
#LakeDistrict #Volunteering #NationalParks
