Labour has announced that, if elected to government, they would make the Malvern Hills a national park, as part of a wider scheme to create 10 new national parks in the country.

While anything that protects and enhances the beautiful environment of the Malvern Hills is to be welcomed, you have to ask how becoming a designated national park would improve the hills.

The Environment Act 1995 sets out two statutory purposes for national parks:

1. Conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage

2. Promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of national parks by the public.

That’s great, but doesn’t the Malvern Hills Trust already do that? Also, each national park is looked after by an organisation which includes members, staff and volunteers – and that pretty much describes the Malvern Hills Trust, which current manages the hills.

If becoming a national park will provide big sums of money to help better protect the hills, that’s great, but we need to be sure that the hills will actually benefit.