Ex-national park boss makes plea for more funding
BBCThe former CEO of a national park said government funding does not reflect their importance to the nation's health.
Tony Gates left his role in Northumberland on 1 May and said he was proud it was still "unspoiled and with England's darkest skies and cleanest rivers".
He is urging the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to increase its grant because "it's got to the point where we're really struggling even to do the stuff we have to do legally".
Defra said: "National Parks are a great source of national pride and we will make them greener, wilder, and more accessible to all."
Gates, who is from Northern Ireland told R4's Farming Today he was drawn to Northumberland because there was "something special about border regions".
During his time at the helm of England's most northerly national park he oversaw the completion of a new visitor centre and youth hostel at Once Brewed, Bardon Mill near Hexham.
"We built it with the aim of welcoming 100,000 visitors each year and it has never welcomed fewer than 120,000," he said.
He said he was also proud of the work done "building relationships with local farmers" and the development of the dark sky economy in Northumberland.
Ian GlendinningBut he said his two decades in post have also involved "constant battles" with Defra over the formula it uses to allocate grants to national parks.
"The long and short of it is Northumberland's never had its fair share," Gates said.
"My message to government would be invest properly in national parks because they are good for the national's health, not just for physical health but mental wellbeing too."
Ian GlendinningA spokesperson for Defra said: "The government is providing £83m to our protected landscapes, like national parks, accelerating our ambition to protect 30% of our land by 2030.
"The government backed the recently completed the Northumberland Rail Line with £300m, helping connect communities to vibrant, green spaces including the Northumberland Park."
