Sixty years of the Northumberland National Park

By Helen Ford

6th April 1956 was a milestone for the North East; the creation of the Northumberland National Park. It was established to conserve and enhance the landscape within it, while making that countryside accessible for all.

405 square miles of remote hillsides, villages and forests fall within its boundaries. It also contains stretches of the World Heritage Site Hadrian's Wall.

Even for those who work here, the scale of the National Park is huge. Head Ranger Paget Lazzari describes it as 'mindblowing'

The park attracts one and a half million visitors each year, may of them to Hadrian's Wall. Those at the helm must perform a balancing act; weighing up the requirements of visitors against those who live and work in the park.

The organisation's Chief Executive says it also plays an umbrella role, bringing groups together.

While many people are attracted to the isolation of the Northumberland National Park, that remoteness can have its drawbacks. 18 year old Ben Dewhirst sits on the park's Youth Cabinet and says transport is a major issue for young people living in scattered communities.

Added to the issue of transport, the National Park has an ageing population, so another question is how to maintain its vibrancy and sense of community into the future.

June 2017 will see the opening of The Sill, a multi-million pound discovery centre, aimed at opening up the park to both visitors and local people. It will also include space for rural businesses.

While the 60th anniversary of the Northumberland National Park offers a chance to look back, the focus is very much on the future.

Watch my full report on life and work within the park here: