The untamed beauty of national parks

The National Park status is given to an area by the government in order to preserve the natural environment due to its significant interest.

Yellowstone is widely regarded as the first national park in the world, however, Bogd Khan Uul in Mongolia has been a protected site since 1783, with an earlier protection as a ‘sacred mountain’ that dates back to the 12th century.

It wasn’t until 1949, after decades of campaigning, that the UK introduced National Park legislation with the passing of the National Parks and Countryside Act. The Peak District was the first designated area in 1951. 

CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural England), the countryside charity, created a short film that was shown in cinemas in the 1930s.

The six-minute film instils the virtues of spending time in the open natural spaces and fights for the establishment of national parks in “defence of our right to the beauty of our land”.

Watch ‘Rural England: The Case for the Defence’ on YouTube. 

Writing

From Wordsworth’s ‘Guide to the Lakes’, to Kipling’s “blunt bow-headed, whale-backed Downs”, the untamed beauty of national parks has long inspired writers.

Take yourself back to an outside area of natural beauty that you know. Jog your memory from your camera roll or visit the spot again if you’re lucky enough to live nearby.

What is it that strikes you about this place? What do you find awe-inspiring about this environment? How does returning to this place make you feel?

We’d love to see what you come up with, if you’d like to share. 

Photo by Josh Carter on Unsplash