Updated March 2007 following a cover for colleague Mr. Bilbie when I discovered some dead links...
KEY CONCEPTS: Management and Conflict !
The National Parks came about in the early 1950's following earlier protests against the lack of right to roam. The Kinder Trespass in the 1930's was one of many famous incursions which lead to a change in attitude. On a chilly November day a good walk is to meet in the quarry near Hayfield where the 'trespassers' met, and then walk up onto the moors below the Kinder Downfall. Hopefully there'll be no gamekeepers with sticks waiting for you. Read all about it at the HAYFIELD page. The leader of the Kinder Trespass, Benny Rothman, sadly died in 2002. The Original idea for National Parks came from the UNITED STATES. The Kinder Trespass was recently (2007) the subject of an edition of 'Countryfile'.
Wordsworth was also of the view that there should be areas that were:
"a national property in which every man has a right and an interest who has an eye to perceive and a heart to enjoy it"
National Parks in England and Wales were created by the 1949 National Parks & Access to the Countryside Act. The first ten parks were set up between 1951 and 1957. Their twin purposes were to protect areas of spectacular landscape and to provide recreation opportunities for the general public.
This was revised under the Environment Act 1995 and National Parks now have two statutory purposes:
to conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the National Park
to promote opportunities for public enjoyment and understanding of the special qualities of the National Park
and a statutory duty:
to foster the economic and social well-being of communities living within the National Park
often referred to at GCSE level as the 'AIMS'
Below is a map of the Parks of England and Wales. In SCOTLAND, they have National Scenic Areas, which are similar in their aims.
The various National Park AUTHORITIES have their own site too, with some tremendous pictures of the landscapes found in the various National Parks. There is a useful introduction to each of the parks, including the new designations. The Association of National Park Authorities.
PEAK DISTRICT NATIONAL PARK
The first National Park to be designated (in 1951, along with 2 others) was the PEAK DISTRICT. This used to be my weekly venue at weekends to recharge my batteries You can go to the Peak District EDUCATION site, which has an Interactive RIVER WALK page with Virtual walks and maps in the Peak District (needs Flash to be loaded: has Primary/Secondary and Teacher Zones). From the PEAK DISTRICT site you can link to all the other National Parks using the LINKS page, so this makes a useful introduction to these valuable areas.
There's a simple Virtual tour of CASTLETON as part of the INTERNET GEOGRAPHY website
CASTLETON and BAKEWELL are 2 'HONEYPOTS' in this area. Why not do a HONEYPOT trail...
What are the
honeypots in other National Parks ?
And no Hunstanton isn't a honeypot in the Broads Ben !
OTHER UK NATIONAL PARK SITES
Other National Park sites include those for DARTMOOR (home of letterboxing..), and EXMOOR. I visited them both in August 2004 and tried to get some information on the various landforms they are famous for. Dartmoor is famous for TORS, and I am also very fond of Wistman's Wood which has a spooky feel to it as it was one of the few remaining remnants of ancient forest. Park near the very nice Two Bridges hotel and wander along the river.
The LAKE DISTRICT has an excellent site with an education section which includes downloadable fact sheets, such as an excellent one on Footpath Erosion, and another one on MANAGING CONFLICTING DEMANDS.
The site has been updated with some new materials, notably the FLASH type games which lots of people seem to be adding as Broadband becomes more widespread (I must get out of Norfolk!) - one of the new resources is a game featuring Park Ranger Clifford. This explores Off-road cycling and information on the 10mph speed-limit on Lake Windermere.
SOUTH DOWNS now has a VISITOR INFORMATION CENTRE website.
SNOWDONIA is partly owned by the National Trust, who bought part of it 5 years ago. Anthony Hopkins donated £1 million to the fund. The old name for the area is Eryri which means 'eagle's eyrie', but it is also known by the Welsh name Yr Wyddfa, which means 'tomb'.
New for August 2004
When we went to the Lake District for a fieldtrip I prepared a PAGE OF LINKS for the students. You may also find the following useful: a section on the SOILS of the Lakes, and the plans for a day investigating the glacial features of the LANGDALE VALLEY. We also used 2 of the modules run by the Lake District National Park Education Service. We were impressed by the delivery. I have included here my notes taken during the visit to WHINLATTER forest park on forest management and other related issues. A final section is the visit to UNDERHELM farm, where the module involves some useful work on the problems of farming in an area which is difficult to keep profitable.
Want to visit ? Try GO LAKES. They now have a new WORDSWORTH rap squirrel stylee !
The YORKSHIRE DALES are another favourite area of mine. They contain a lot of LIMESTONE scenery, and the Malham area is one of the classic areas for Geography field trips. I remember a trip there in the early 90's when I demonstrated the qualities of Gore Tex to a 6th form group who were getting steadily soaked as I stayed dry - a recurring theme it seems. The 'classic' round walk to catch all the main sites is via Malham, Gordale Scar, Malham Tarn, Water Sinks, Watlowes, Malham Cove and Janet's Foss.
Also, visit the NORTH YORKSHIRE MOORS, or NORTHUMBERLAND.
In WALES, you have the PEMBROKESHIRE COAST, the BRECON BEACONS or SNOWDONIA.
The NORTHUMBERLAND National Park has an educational database which is currently being compiled but already has visitor statistics which could be used as stimulus material for a skills type question.
GEORESOURCES has a good Decision Making Exercise on National Parks for those who do DME's as part of their syllabus.
A lot in the news at the moment about the potential for the South Downs to become the latest National Park. There are some people against the possible designation.
Looking for an example of tourist management ? Go to the Dartmoor National park site and take a look at their MOOR CARE LESS WEAR campaign. This has lots of sensible advice for reducing problems in the National Park, and I would recommend it as an example of attempts to control the damage caused in honeypot areas. Make sure you have your named honeypot too.
To rebuild / repair 1 metre of footpath costs £50, and the stone to do this has to be carried into very remote areas. Often the work is dependent on volunteers.
Fancy a 'Virtual' trip down Dovedale ? This is a HONEYPOT site in the Peak District and thanks to NEIL TILLEY you can investigate the location. There's a map with photos and hotspots and a questionnaire survey that could be carried out. There are plenty of sites offering photos of tourist honeypots such as this too.
Another great link was also provided on SLN Geography, and this is about the imposition of a 10 MPH SPEED LIMIT on LAKE WINDERMERE in the English Lake District. This is a good 'live issue' and focus for debate, hot seating and all those techniques you all know about.. The site is well put together and has some great information. Has various quotes and campaign downloads, and if you feel strongly enough you can buy some related merchandise.
Try to investigate the area of GREEN LANES as well. These are ancient routeways which have never been paved, but run through the National Parks. People use them for off road activities in 4x4 vehicles, and there are concerns that these ancient routes are being damaged by this activity.
This is one of the newest National Parks, and also the closest to my current home. Apart from a few Hoseasons boating holidays when I was a teenager, I haven't been back to the Broads too often since, apart from the odd trip to Wroxham, and the Woodforde's brewery tap. Had a very nice pint of Sundew there over the Easter holiday in 2007 in fact.
There is the usual official site, but some of the better sites are the other ones.
The local newspaper: the EDP has a NORFOLK BROADS SITE. This has some excellent materials at GCSE student sort of level.
The NORFOLK BROADS SOCIETY is useful. Holidays on the BROADS here. There's also a free magazine called the BROADCASTER which I recently picked up from Cromer TIC. Many National Parks offer free magazines.
The tourist honeypot on the Broads is WROXHAM, and if you're in Wroxham you won't be able to miss ROYS - watch out for the humpitybacked bridge if you're coming from Norwich too
NON-UK NATIONAL PARKS
National Parks came about in the USA. The work of John Muir was fundamental to their formation. The site of YELLOWSTONE National Park is worth a visit.
The National Park is also worth a visit to investigate plant succession. The Mount Fuji National Park is apparently the most visited although a motorway apparently goes through it and cars passing along this are counted as visiting the park. Is this the case ? Any definitive answer on that ?
LESSON PLANS
1. INTERPRETIVE SIGN DESIGN EXERCISE
The Nature Conservancy Council (NCC) have published guidelines on signs in the countryside. Clearly a sign has a specific purpose, and it has to be designed following guidelines if it is to meet this purpose.
The following is adapted from the NCC Guidelines published in 1990. If there is an issue with this, please get in touch.
WHAT IS A SIGN AND WHAT DOES IT DO ?
A sign's essential function is to provide information to its intended viewer. To do this the sign must be understood.
It is a visual, or tactile medium that conveys a simple message.
It may be designed to express the corporate identity of the organisation producing the signs.
Signs are part of tourist management plans.
ADVANTAGES OF SIGNS
Can provide information and explanation of features they are sited near to.
Production and maintenance costs are relatively low.
Can be changed or updated or removed as needs change.
Can be permanently in place.
Don't require a member of staff to be in situ. Saves time and cost.
Can be read at the user's own pace.
DISADVANTAGES OF SIGNS
They are passive - require mental effort from the visitors.
One-way communication only - not interactive (note that modern systems may offer some, with the aid of touch screens, or sound clips which are played when a button is pressed, or headphone tours such as they have at art galleries or exhibitions...)
May attract attention to vulnerable features.
May be vandalised, or weathered.
Area immediately around the site may be weathered, or littered as visitors come over to have a look at the sign.
May confuse rather than inform.
Like any object, they have a specific audience in mind. Visitors may not have actively searched for the sign.
DESIGN PRINCIPLES
MAXIMUM NUMBER OF WORDS ON A SIGN SHOULD BE 150
DON'T ATTEMPT TO PUT MORE THAN 3 POINTS ACROSS TO THE READER
THE AVERAGE BRITISH ADULT HAS A READING AGE OF AROUND 14 YEARS
DON'T ASSUME PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OR USE TECHNICAL LANGUAGE e.g. use the words 'plants and animals' rather than 'flora and fauna'
ASK SOMEONE ELSE TO CHECK THE CONTENTS
Using an appropriate resource - may be a textbook spread, or a designated website or leaflet, pupils need to design layout of an interpretive sign.
If using ICT - bear in mind that the shape of the sign could be altered from a rectangular one. Some signs may be produced using appropriate shapes.
Also need to consider whether the board will be mounted vertically, or at a slight angle so that people standing can read it. Consider visitors who may be visually impaired, or have restricted mobility.
Sign should stick to the DESIGN PRINCIPLES above.
You may add additional elements: for example, you may want to add a MAP OR IMAGE to the sign. If so, you may want to use the NCC Guidelines on these aspects:
ADDING MAPS
MAPS SHOULD ONLY BE INCLUDED IF THERE IS A REASON FOR HAVING THEM
KEEP THE DETAIL ON THE MAP TO A MINIMUM
ADD SCALE AND NORTH POINT - PERHAPS A 'YOU ARE HERE' SYMBOL ?
INCLUDE ONE FEATURE ON THE MAP THAT THE VISITOR CAN EASILY RELATE TO
MAKE IT BIG ENOUGH TO SEE
The document goes on to suggest layouts for the signs. You could do this too.
With TEXT, bear in mind that you should KEEP THE USE OF CAPITAL LETTERS TO A MINIMUM. Avoid having all BLOCK text. You could ask pupils to suggest the positioning of signs.
You could, for example, provide a digital image of the view from a landmark, and ask pupils to prepare a sign.
Could use other types of PRESENTATION SOFTWARE too.
2. NATIONAL PARK PRESENTATION
An obvious one here....
Choose the NATIONAL PARK and then away you go...
Needs AfL style objectives.
3. SPLITTING UP THE BIG PICTURE...
Idea posted by Val Vannet on SLN Geography Forum.
Give each person part of a bigger image. They have to work out how their particular section fits into 'the big picture'. Also have to create a larger version of their original picture. This produces an excellent display and the students then have to write something about the final piece.
4. LAND USE CONFLICTS IN NATIONAL PARKS
See the LESSON PLAN relating to the Lake District National Park.
5. PAST QUESTIONS
A common idea is to have a map of the National Parks (don't forget the South Downs, New Forest and Norfolk Broads...)
Identify particular National parks, or locate one that has been studied in detail (we generally use the Peak District, but I suppose there could be a chance that in the future we could use the Norfolk Broads - and perhaps we should ! also a chance for a Fieldwork visit there) - in fact I know a contact who we could perhaps make use of .... more to come on this soon....
What are the aims of National Parks - remember that there are 3...
Also consider SUSTAINABLE strategies for getting people into the parks - e.g. public transport
And focus on raw materials and their extraction in National Parks....
