National Parks - Too White, Too Middle-Aged, Too Middle Class?

[mushroom25]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/12/29/national-parks-must-attract-ethnic-minority-visitors-justify/

how would the national parks expand their diversity base? the young are hardly going to go to an area where 4g is practically non-existent, so would a veritable forest of base station aerials be acceptable? would it be right to turn rugged mountain paths into tarmac thoroughfares accessible to powered vehicles? and how exactly would the authority attract racial diversity if the target groups have no interest in the areas?

[Togo]

Well we have done our bit. We cancelled our membership and support a few years ago when the got all woke and full of pc "blocks". Do you mean to tell me that the ethnic, gender fluid, benefits dependant, obese, white "privilege critics" haven't moved in to fill the vacuum left by thousands like us? Surprise, surprise. Next thing you know they will be short of funds to carry on doing, what they stopped doing, for less and less people. Bless.

[jourdain2]

I remember one year accompanying a group of pupils for a longish 'ramble' from Halifax up to Ogden moor, about 3 miles there and back. (Coach to car park.) It was a walk I did most weeks with dog and peaked at a pub on top of moor where there was a picnic area and we bought them soft drinks to go with their sarnies. They were very well-behaved and the landlord invited them to re-visit. None did.

All the girls turned up in sandals and Shalwar-Kameeze. Ploughing through mud brought out the best in some of them. I don't recall any venturing out of town again.

Ethnic minorities, and all city children, know about these areas (Whitby is constantly invaded by school trips from inner cities, for example, as is Malham) but it is not their 'thing'. I don't see how you can make inner-city youngsters like something in which they have no interest. No - a forest of 'phone masts is not acceptable and would defeat the point of fresh air and natural isolation from the hurley-burley for a while.

[anotheoldgit]

This is not a new thing a few years ago my town council provided free busses to ferry ethnic minorities into the peak national park.

[Togo]

// my town council provided free busses to ferry ethnic minorities into the peak national park.//

Did they provide free transport for them to come back AOGent?

[naomi24]

//National parks will no longer deserve the name unless they can attract more young as well as black, Asian and minority ethnic visitors//

'Deserve'? What's that all about? They're National Parks regardless of who uses them.

[Old_Geezer]

National parks aren't there to encourage diversity. They are protecting the areas. People can go if they wish, or not go if they don't wish. No point in ruining the place trying for some unnecessary goal and destroying their raison d'être.

[TonyV]

You cannot force people to do some gentle exercise, despite all its benefits.

[New Judge]

//Richard Leafe, chief executive of the Cumbrian attraction warned that national parks must become more diverse to justify continued public funding.

He said that if the UK’s 15 designated landscapes are seen as exclusive, “they start to lose their relevance and therefore the very reason for calling it a national park”.//

The man is a complete yo-yo. There is no possibility of a National Park becoming "more diverse". It is an area of land with particular attributes. People who want to visit it do so, those who don't, er... don't. The ethnic make up of those who visit it do not add or detract from its "diversity". This ridiculous business with the Lake District has been on the go for at least five years. The Lake District is not "exclusive". It is no more exclusive than the Emirates Stadium is. Everyone knows where it is, all are invited; anyone can attend (providing they have a ticket - not needed for the Lake District); many people chose not to. National Parks do not achieve their relevance by virtue of those who visit them and Mr Leafe needs to rethink his position if he believes they do.

[Togo]

Now don't be churlish and white privileged Judge. The National Mistrust will need to raise funds to install skate boarding, trail biking, and practice drug run tracks. There will need to be "safe space" chill areas with free wifi and wall to wall rave facilities set up. All complying with elfin safety regulations and providing first class medical facilities for the inevitable over stimulated substance abusers. The major fast food multinationals could be persuaded to build garish facilities to attract these new and exciting visitors who will go on to make voluntary contributions when the cows come home.

[tonyav]

The major fast food multinationals could be persuaded to build garish facilities to attract these new and exciting visitors who will go on to make voluntary contributions when the cows come home.

I hope the garish fast food outlets all have one of these by the entrance, Togo.
https://www.everydaynodaysoff.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/UKBinThatKnife.jpg

[sanmac]

That sounds good to me, Togo. That type of venue would certainly invite truck-loads of wannabe Robbin Hoods.

[Togo]

//That sounds good to me, Togo.//

Haah. I think I would set my subscription up again as well. :))

[New Judge]

//Now don't be churlish and white privileged Judge.//

Sorry Togo. Won't happen again! :-)

[fender62]

virtue signalling, probably needs to satisfy someone, in order to justify his salary...doin is bit for diversity in it..

[TonyV]

Togo you are having a real giraffe today.

[david small]

What a load of PC hogwash. The human species really is a waste of oxygen.

[cassa333]

OH for crying out loud.

It’s a park. It’s open to everyone. It doesn’t turn people away based on any characteristic other than accessibility perhaps.

[Ellipsis]

> National parks aren't there to encourage diversity. They are protecting the areas. People can go if they wish, or not go if they don't wish. No point in ruining the place trying for some unnecessary goal and destroying their raison d'être.

Agree 100% with this.

If anything, they should be trying to attract less people, not more. My attitude is that they should not be spending much if any money on marketing to get people to come to the parks. But if they are going to be spending money on marketing, perhaps the issue is how they're spending it - e.g. mainly on ads in publications viewed by what are already stereotypical park visitors.

[ladybirder]

What a great thread. Sensible, funny, thoughtful and right. AB at its best.