The first national park was established in 1949 to preserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife, and cultural heritage of some of the country’s most scenic areas.

Event highlights include:

· Lake District, Cumbria – Arts and Crafts, Introduction to Watercolour Landscapes (July 6)
· Brecon Beacons, Wales – Shakespeare in the Park, performance of “Twelfth Night” (July 1)
· North York Moors – Discovering Small Mammals, an introduction to their hidden world (July 4)
· Exmoor, Somerset - Guided hill, valley and beach walk “Shammick Silver” (July 1)

The Parks provide excellent opportunities for outdoor activities such as walking, cycling and riding. They account for ten per cent of the land area of England and Wales and have recently been joined by two new National Parks in Scotland.

Website: www.anpa.gov.uk