A taxpayer-funded review commissioned by Britain’s Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has absurdly labeled England’s national parks and protected landscapes as feeling “white” and unwelcoming, portraying them as an “exclusive, mainly white, middle-class club” with unclear rules that deter first-time visitors.
The 2019 Landscapes Review, led by Julian Glover, claims both ethnic minorities and white people view the countryside this way, urging drastic changes to make these natural treasures more “inclusive.” Governance comes under fire for lacking diversity: Of nearly 1,000 board members across National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), the majority are male, with only a “tiny fraction” from black, Asian, or minority ethnic backgrounds—a setup deemed “wrong” for publicly funded bodies serving the nation.
Updated management plans for areas like the Cotswolds, Chilterns, and Malvern Hills now mandate outreach to ethnic minority communities, targeting barriers such as unleashed dogs, language issues, and preferences for group activities over solitude. Specific efforts focus on regions with large Muslim populations, like Luton and High Wycombe, to boost diverse visitation.
The report insists: “We are all paying for national landscapes through our taxes”. Henry Jackson Society’s Michael McManus blasted the initiative: “At a time of low growth, high taxes and stretched public services, it’s astonishing that ministers are spending time and money worrying about the ‘whiteness’ of the countryside. Government exists to grow the economy and fix real problems, not to indulge in culture war distractions.” This DEI-driven meddling prioritizes ideological agendas over conservation and public enjoyment. As families face real hardships, diverting funds to “de-whiten” parks exemplifies progressive folly that ignores the timeless appeal of nature for all.
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