National Parks Week – Landscapes of Plenty!
17th July 2015
Plenty to do, plenty to see, plenty to enjoy! This year’s National Parks Week is all about our bountiful landscapes and what they can offer us in terms of sustenance for the body, mind and soul.
National Parks Week runs from the 27th July – 2nd August and is celebrated by all 15 National Parks across the UK and this year’s theme is ‘Landscapes of Plenty’, an acknowledgement of the fact the UK’s National Parks are more than just places to play and find inspiration. There is so much more! National Parks are also home to productive landscapes, providing some of the best produce, products and food and drink in the country.
Here in the Cairngorms National Park we know we produce some of the finest food and drink around from venison, beef and lamb to whisky, cheese and fine arts and crafts. And we have plenty to do with 666 miles of core paths for example, and plenty of wildlife – even the rare stuff!
So here are our suggestions to help you enjoy a fantastic National Parks Week and make the most of our ‘Landscapes of Plenty’….
Cairngorms Scenic Photo Posts project: Cairngorms Scenic Photo Posts have popped up all over the Cairngorms National Park and anyone with a camera, tablet or smartphone can get involved in this new project to look at how our landscape changes over time. The wooden posts are at 14 stunning locations across the National Park and each one has a camera bracket on top to ensure everyone takes exactly the same view. Having found the post, pop your camera, phone or tablet into the bracket, take a photo and then you can register and upload the image on to the Photo Posts website and contribute to a visual record of our changing landscape. https://cairngorms.co.uk/photo-posts/
Cairngorms Nature Young Presenter Competition: One for the kids – how do you fancy making a film all about nature? National Parks Week is the ideal time to explore the unique nature to be found within the landscapes in our National Park. This year we are searching for a young person (10-16 years) to inspire and enthuse others to get outside and get involved in Cairngorms Nature. There is an amazing prize on offer of a day spent with BBC’s Iolo Williams as part of a 5-day family holiday with Speyside Wildlife. To be in with a chance of winning you need to make a short video of the young person presenting nature and enter it online – full details and rules of entry can be found at www.rspb.org.uk/cairngormsnature
Out and about with a Ranger: At 1,748 sq miles/4,528 sq km and with 13 ranger services across the Cairngorms National Park, there is plenty of ranger led events to enjoy during National Parks Week. From guided walks, river exploration or how about finding out more about the colourful world of butterflies? You can find out what is on offer
Tweet the Week: And if you’re social media savvy, you can get daily updates on how to make the most of enjoying the landscapes of the Cairngorms National Park on foot or on bikes via our @cairngormsnews, @CNPactive and @CNPnature Twitter feeds.