Mike McKinley, Chair of the Lake District National Park Authority, has this week been announced as the new Chair of National Parks England, the organisation representing all ten English National Parks.
Mike, who lives in Wasdale and is the Copeland Parish Council’s representative on the Lake District National Park Authority, takes up his new role with immediate effect.
Mike's main ambition in his new role is to bring more closely together the ten English National Parks to act cohesively and collaboratively at a time of very considerable challenge brought about by the Glover Review to Protected Landscapes, the coronavirus pandemic and the ongoing Brexit negotiations, all issues certain to have a substantial impact on all English National Parks in the immediate future.
Mike, who has been the Lake District National Park Authority's Chair since 2014, and continues in that role, cites as one of his highlights to date as The Lake District achieving World Heritage Site status in 2017.
He takes over from Carl Lis, the Chair of Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority.
National Parks England is the umbrella organisation that brings together all of the English National Park Authorities. It exists to support policy and practice by providing a collective voice for the views of the English National Park Authorities, raising the profile of their work, facilitating discussion on issues of common concern, and working in partnership with other bodies.
Our photo shows Mike McKinley, Chair of the Lake District National Park Authority who has this week been announced as Chair of National Parks England.
