Respect Social Distancing and No Litter or BBQs

The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority is appealing to visitors and local communities to take a fresh look at the guidelines on social distancing, littering and BBQs.

Carl Lis, Chairman of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, said: “In the last couple of days we’ve seen some extraordinary images of packed beaches and beauty spots across the country, and some shocking examples of littering and dangerously-abandoned BBQs.

“It’s also sad to hear reports from our own teams here in the National Park that some are choosing to ignore the social distancing rule, are not taking litter home, and are continuing to bring BBQs into a tinder-dry countryside. 

“Of course we want people to enjoy the National Park, to use it as a safe place to relax, exercise and re-charge the batteries – it’s important for our mental and physical health – but that has to be balanced with a basic respect for the land, for the community, and for each other. 

“For anyone considering coming to the countryside to soak up the sunshine by a riverside or waterfall, please:

Respect the land – No more rubbish excuses, take all your litter home and don’t bring BBQs of any description into the National Park

Respect the community – Many in the local community are amongst some of the most vulnerable groups of people. Please keep a safe distance from homes, schools, and farms. 

Respect each other – Follow the social distancing guidelines. Be kind and respect one another, whether visitor or local. 

To help people plan their visit and view the latest guidance, the following resources are available on the National Park Authority website:

• The Countryside Code
• First time visitor information
• No littering, No BBQs infographics
• Social distancing and National Park rules infographics
• Short walks from National Park car parks
• 60 additional short walk ideas across the Park

There are also printed maps, alongside safety information, available in key locations across the National Park.