Natural England's public consultation to extend the Yorkshire Dales and Lake District National Parks has now closed. We are hopeful most organisations and people will realise the benefits the two National Parks bring to our area and to the nation as whole.  Read a summary of the economic benefits of National Parks here. We will keep you updated with progress via our enewsletters. If you would like a copy of our detailed response or would like further information please contact Policy Officer Jack Ellerby, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Four years ago Friends of the Lake District produced our 2005 report Cumbria's Forgotten Landscapes - A Summary of the National Park Review Project highlighting the time had come to tackle the ‘unfinished business' of the National Park boundaries, which we think are incorrect as the existing boundaries break in half landscape areas of national park quality. Following the process for the creation of the South Downs National Park, Natural England are now tackling these issues. The full report of Cumbria's Forgotten Landscapes is available on request. Please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The consultation documents cover both the principles of designation and proposed boundaries. They can be viewed at: www.lakestodaleslandscapes.org.uk

The proposed extension areas are:

Lake District:
· Birkbeck Fells to Whinfell (area between the A6 and M6, which includes Friends of the Lake District's land at High Borrowdale);
· Helsington Barrows to Sizergh Fell and Lyth Valley (area between Brigsteer and Levens villages south east of Kendal).

Yorkshire Dales:
· Middleton, Barbon and Leck Fells (east and north of Kirkby Lonsdale);
· Firbank Fell (west of Sedbergh);
· Northern Howgill Fells;
· Mallerstang and Wild Boar Fell (south of Kirkby Stephen).

Orton Fells:
· The consultation is asking whether the Orton Fells limestone area should be a continuation of the Yorkshire Dales National Park extension, or whether it should form a further eastern extension to the Lake District (including a linking ‘wash-over' area crossing the M6 south of Shap).

The proposed boundaries take account of the recommendations in our 2005 report. The evaluation of the two landscape tests for National Park designation, of natural beauty and open-air recreation developed by Natural England within their assessment is generally sound. The main difference between our 2005 report and the current proposals is that we recommended the Orton Fells be designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). We shall have to wait and see what people think is right for this and the other areas through the consultation process.