FOLLOWING funding cuts of 36.5% in the last five years (roughly £3.5m), the Peak District National Park Authority (PDNPA) has been forced to ‘reduce liabilities’ by selling twelve small woodland areas.
National Park Authorities in England received £44.7m for 2015/6 compared with £56m in 2010/11
The sales will involve usage restrictions, to be monitored by The Woodland Trust, and will allow the PDNPA, they say, to concentrate on the remaining 120 woodlands in their care, which cover approximately 443 hectares of land (1094 acres).
Six of the woodland areas for sale have already hit the market. These include:
- Coronation Plantation, Leadmill, near Hathersage, Derbyshire - 2.8 acres (1.14ha) - £14,000
- Nabb's Quarry Wood, Wildboarclough area, Cheshire - 1.1 acres (0.44ha) - £8000
- Newhaven Plantation, Newhaven, Derbyshire on A515 - 4.4 acres (1.8ha) - £15,000
- Shay Bends Wood, on A623 Baslow to Calver road, Derbyshire - 2.0 acres (0.8ha) - £3000
- Slack Hall Wood, near Chapel-en-le-Frith on road to Winnats Pass, Derbyshire - 7.7 acres (3.1ha) - £13,000
- Wetton Wood, above village of Wetton, North Staffordshire - 0.4 acres (0.16ha) - £5000
Assistant Director of the PDNPA, Jane Chapman, said:
"Having established or improved these woods - often by reclaiming former rubbish tips or quarry sites - then protected and maintained them over many years, we have fulfilled our primary objective as a national park.
"We now want to return these natural assets to the community, as we are reducing our liabilities at a time of budget reductions.”
Newhaven Plantation is one of the plots up for saleCampaign groups are worried the move by the PDNPA could set a national precedent, with parks countrywide facing draconian budget cuts of up to 40%; resulting in over 225 job losses and the end of initiatives like apprenticeships, branding and sustainability projects.
National Park Authorities in England received £44.7m for 2015/6 compared with £56m in 2010/11; they now cost the English taxpayer just 83.5p a year, a paltry amount, campaigners say, considering 90 million visits are made to our national parks every year.
Fiona Howie, Campaign for National Parks chief executive, said that any future cuts would have a severe impact on local communities. “National Parks are among the most beautiful and valued landscapes in the British Isles, containing some of our most breath-taking scenery, rare wildlife and cultural heritage.
“To deal with the huge funding cuts National Park Authorities have been forced to cut back on the maintenance of footpaths, close visitor centres and reduce funding for flood protection, forestry, climate change, education and ranger services.
"That is why we are leading a campaign calling on the Government to stop cutting funding for the English National Parks and to make sure National Park Authorities have enough money to protect our most iconic landscapes for future generations."
Find out more about the Campaign for National Parks here.
