Too much success

Farming, jams and all change

A fortunate few celebrated the anniversary of national parks and the legacy of John Dower on a lovely November day in Yorkshire, just ahead of the first snow of winter.

We were at the youth hostel at Malham which John Dower designed. He crafted plans for the national parks which became reality after a Labour government won election in 1945.

The BBC covered the celebrations here https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqlr7k9n7qro

Jams and litter

Over the past 75 years national parks have thrived. Perhaps they’ve thrived too well. At weekends and in high summer tourists flock to the parks and beauty spots like Malham.

You could say they’ve been too successful. You could say they bring too many tourists who jam the roads and leave litter.

But is it success that is failing, or is it how we manage it?

Fuel efficient cows

Neil and Leigh Heseltine, farmers in Malham, have seen the need for change first-hand. Neil has adapted the way he farms, not because of visitors or tourism, but to meet the challenges of sustainability.

Over the past 20 years, he’s reduced his flock of sheep and introduced hardy Galloway cattle. These cows are well-suited to the landscape; they live outdoors year-round and require minimal care.

This shift has been a success. Neil now produces more at a lower environmental cost, while reducing his farm’s contribution to global warming. You can learn more about his approach here https://agricology.co.uk/farmer-profiles/neil-heseltine/

Change

Neil is proof that change can work. Just as he’s reimagined farming in the national park, we must rethink how we visit these treasured landscapes.

There are small steps we can take to reduce our impact. For example:

Opt for buses or shared transport when visiting.

Plan walks that start and end at locations served by public transport.

Consider leaving the car behind altogether. Walking without it can be just as enjoyable and far less harmful.

What other ideas might help us protect our national parks? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Long slow change

Farming is showing it can adapt and tourism must do the same. Neil Heseltine reminds us we can change. Success isn’t failing, it’s our reaction that is failing.

And the memorial to John Dower is a reminder that change is hard work and takes time.

John Dower and others like him had campaigned for national parks long before the Labour government of 1945. And it took many years for the parks to be established.

As we celebrate, let’s also commit to the long, slow work of ensuring these spaces thrive, not just for us, but for generations to come.

Notes

Photo of the opening of the youth hostel at Malham in 1938 including John Dower seated, second from right, courtesy YHA archive at the Cadbury Research Library, University of Birmingham.

Historical profile of YHA Malham here https://duncanmsimpsonwriting.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/y950001-malham-yh-reduced-profile-rev2020-01-01.pdf