Peak District National Park Management Plan 2023-28
Ambitious. Aspirational. Exemplary.
Our National Park Management Plan is for everyone.
We have big ambitions for the Peak District National Park and our aspirational long term vision outlines where we collectively want the Peak District to be in 20 years’ time.
Together with your help, we can achieve this vision.
This is a pivotal moment for our national parks across the UK. There has never been a greater need for the crucial role our protected landscapes can play in nature recovery, meeting net-zero ambitions, delivering thriving communities and helping with the nation’s wellbeing.
At the same time, an almost unprecedented set of global circumstances means that many of those who play a part in caring for national parks are increasingly having to do the same, or more, with far fewer resources.
A shared vision for the National Park
By 2043, the Peak District National Park is exemplary in its response to climate change and nature recovery. Its special qualities and resilience as a living landscape have been significantly enhanced. It is a welcoming place where all are inspired to care and communities thrive.
Despite these challenges, the determination for the Peak District to continue with its pioneering approach at the heart of the country, remains undiminished.
Working collaboratively and with shared ambition has never been more vital. In these short pages and within the wider National Park Management Plan, a common thread of partnership delivery can be found. We hope you’ll see a place for you, your business, organisation or community within this vision.
We look forward to working with you.
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Conservationists work with members of the climbing community in an annual partnership that helps to safeguard the nesting areas of ring ouzels – a rare migratory visitor to the National Park’s gritstone crags, including Stanage Edge.
Working together, in partnership
The Management Plan is for the National Park as a place and not for any individual organisation or group. Those we often work with include:
• resident communities
• Members of Parliament
• visitors
• farmers and land managers
• businesses
• water companies
• local authorities
• visitor attractions
• cultural heritage groups
• voluntary sector organisations
• statutory bodies
• tourism partnerships
• education providers
• emergency services
• arts organisations
These important relationships can bring new perspectives, allow the National Park to lead by example and help us influence others locally, regionally and nationally.
The Management Plan provides principles and priorities for partnership action working through its vision, aims, objectives and delivery plan; adding value through identifying collective endeavour as an addition to the good work already in hand.
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The curlew is one of a number of wading birds that call the Peak District home; where land management and conservation measures are helping to sustain key breeding areas for this declining species along with many others.
Aim 1: Climate Change
The Peak District National Park is more resilient and net-zero by 2040 through its exemplary response to climate change.
The relatively modest size of the Peak District within the UK as a whole belies a role and impact in tackling climate change that stretches far beyond its boundaries.
Our uplands, living landscapes and how we use them provides an opportunity for us to lead on reducing greenhouse gases and act as a crucial carbon store. These same places also remain at risk from the impacts of climate change itself
Aim 2: Landscape & Nature Recovery
The Peak District’s ‘special qualities’ depend on the conservation and enhancement of wildlife, natural beauty and cultural heritage, the very features for which it was designated as the UK’s first national park in 1951.
The Lawton Principles for nature recovery
and in turn, that can affect how we enjoy and experience them.
Our objectives in this aim focus on achieving net zero. This will be delivered through partners who are able to mitigate climate impacts through Management Plan actions including land management, energy for premises and road travel.
Wildlife and nature are in crisis across the UK. With widely-recognised loss of species and habitat, there is an urgent need to better connect our landscapes to halt this depletion and increase resilience to climate change.
Caring for our landscape, providing for nature recovery, addressing climate change, as well as producing food, is what society now needs from our farmers, land managers and land owners. We need to support, trial and showcase methods of farming that are economically viable, whilst also
delivering public goods during a period of huge change for our farming and land management community.
Our custodians in the Peak District have been at the forefront of a landscape that has already evolved over generations. This inherent adaptability means we are ready for this challenge of change. Whether that be safeguarding our cultural heritage and historic places, meeting the needs of a dynamic global environment or underpinning a new approach to securing a future for our wildlife. Our ambition is to develop a single Nature Recovery Plan for the whole National Park.
Seasonal mowing on species-rich wildflower meadows on the Warslow Estate in the White Peak
‘‘BIGGER, BETTER, AND MORE JOINED UP’’
‘‘OUR OBJECTIVES IN THIS AIM FOCUS ON ACHIEVING NET ZERO’’
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Sphagnum moss is an upland ‘super plant’ helping to restore and re-wet peat bogs and support natural flood management
Aim 3: Welcoming Place
The Peak District is a welcoming place where all are inspired to enjoy, care for and connect to its special qualities.
With around 20 million people within an hour’s travelling time, the Peak District is uniquely placed as a national resource offering opportunities to discover natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage and be inspired to care.
However, the National Park is not accessed equally by all communities. Barriers may be physical, relate to perceptions, intellectual access, cultural, economic or social factors, all of which can reduce confidence in exploring and enjoying the Peak District to its fullest.
Aim 4: Thriving Communities
The actions in this plan look to widen the welcome and engagement with our neighbouring communities and work with and support the National Park’s flourishing tourism sector to ensure we are providing a sustainable offer. At the same time working to ensure all groups in society are able to benefit from the health and wellbeing opportunities of being outdoors and connecting with nature and cultural heritage.
Whoever is benefitting from the special qualities of the National Park, a sense of responsibility, respect and the importance of the individual part we all play must be recognised. We have a role to ensure the Peak District remains a place everyone can enjoy.
Peak District National Park communities are thriving and sustainable places where all generations can live healthy and fulfilled lives.
The Peak District National Park is a living, working landscape with a resident population of around 38,000. Characteristic settlements, strong communities and traditions are one of the Peak District’s special qualities and are integral to the life and management of the National Park.
We have a duty to foster the economic and social well-being of local communities.
A thriving and sustainable community relies on social, economic and environmental factors.
Like many other rural areas, the challenges remain familiar; affordable local housing, access to services, jobs and high-speed broadband – alongside an ageing population.
Therefore, our ambition is to support and promote sustainable communities to conserve and enhance the National Park’s special qualities. This will focus on future proofing our actions through long term protection of land and property uses, embedding climate change principles, and supporting the use of new technology.
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Everyone involved in the delivery of the Management Plan have a role to play in providing a welcome for all to the National Park
The Peak District National Park – for everyone
Increased woodland and tree cover by 500 hectares by 2028
Established in
1951
The UK’s first National Park
£1.5bn generated from tourism each year
Over 13m visits to the Peak District every year
2,878 tonnes net decrease in carbon emissions from moorlands by 2028
25% reduction in total greenhouse emissions in the Peak District National Park by 2028
Around 3,000 listed buildings
Over 1,380 miles of rights of way
Over 35 miles of traffic-free, all-user trails
555 square miles 6
472 Scheduled Monuments
1/3 of the National Park designated for nature conservation
Climate Change
Objective 1: To lower greenhouse gas emissions significantly, focussing on the largest emitters within our influence.
Objective 2: To sequester and store substantially more carbon while contributing to nature recovery.
Objective 3: To reverse damage to nature, biodiversity and cultural heritage and in particular built environments caused by climate change.
Landscape & Nature Recovery
Around 20 million tonnes of carbon already stored in National Park peat bogs
Welcoming Place
Objective 7: To encourage a sustainable visitor economy that supports local businesses, cares for the National Park’s special qualities and respects the well-being of local communities.
Objective 8: To create opportunities for young people and those from under-served communities to connect with and enjoy the National Park.
Objective 9: To promote the National Park as a place where there are opportunities for the improvement of physical and mental health and well-being.
Objective 4: To be a place where nature recovers and biodiversity flourishes.
Objective 5: To understand, appreciate and enhance the cultural heritage and in particular built environments of the National Park as an ever-changing landscape.
Objective 6: To protect and enhance the natural beauty of the Peak District National Park’s contrasting and ever-changing landscape.
Thriving Communities
Objective 10: To support sustainable communities by improving opportunities for affordable housing and connection to services.
Objective 11: To promote a flourishing economy in accord with nature recovery and climate change mitigation.
38,000 residents
Specific detail on all these aims and objectives can be found within the full management plan at peakdistrict.gov.uk
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National Park Purposes and Duty
At the heart of what we do are our statutory purposes, applied to all National Parks:
• Conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the National Parks; and
• Promote opportunities for understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the National Park by the public.
If there is a conflict between these purposes, the first purpose is given greater weight. In carrying out the purposes, National Park Authorities have a duty to seek to foster the economic and social wellbeing of local national park communities.
Learn more:
The full Peak District National Park Management Plan is available via our website peakdistrict.gov.uk or scan here:
The Peak District National Park Authority Aldern House
Baslow Road
Bakewell Derbyshire DE45 1AE
Get in touch today if you’d like to discuss more on how you, your business or organisation can play a part in delivering the ambitions of the Peak District National Park Management Plan.
01629 816293
customer.service@peakdistrict.gov.uk
/peakdistrictnationalpark
@PeakDistrict
/peakdistrictnationalpark
/peakdistrictnationalpark
Cover photo: Daniel Wildey/WildeyMedia Additional photography: Tom Marshall, Tim Melling, Moors for the Future Partnership, Mark Naftalin, Phil Sproson, Fiona Stubbs, Daniel Wildey Design: NorthCreativeStudioLtd