Today marks a milestone for Cumbria's two National Parks - the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales - as the final public consultation starts (30 January) to formally expand their boundaries.

Friends of the Lake District's Hedge Laying Demonstration, Competition and Training Event takes place at New Hall Farm, between Crook and Staveley, on Saturday 4 February 2012.

Natural England and Defra (the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) are asking for your final views on the proposed boundary extensions to the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks from 30 January to 16 March 2012.

Friends of the Lake District welcomes the call by a cross-party committee of MPs for ‘significant changes' to improve the draft National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) [1].