A countryside charity has launched a campaign to have the UK’s 16th national park created as it marks its 100th anniversary.
The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) in Somerset is pushing for the Somerset Levels to gain official National Park status, reports the BBC.
The Levels are the UK’s largest lowland wetland and play a crucial role as seasonal floodplains, helping to protect towns and communities across Somerset during the winter months.
There are currently 15 National Parks across the UK. The first, the Peak District, was designated in 1951, while the most recent addition, the South Downs, gained its status in 2010.
Becky Collier, the organisation’s manager, said the landscape holds a special place in people’s hearts. She described it as unique, expansive and deserving of greater recognition.
CPRE believes the area has strong potential to achieve National Park status, although it acknowledges the process could take several years.
Collier said the timing of the campaign is significant, as the charity celebrates its centenary. Founded in 1926, CPRE originally campaigned for the creation of National Parks, planning laws and broader landscape protections.
She added that the proposal is a fitting way to honour those early efforts a century on. Read the full story here.