Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority Appeal For People To Stay Home

Ahead of the Easter weekend the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority is appealing for the public to resist the temptation to visit loved ones or visit green spaces, and to stay at home to save lives.

David Butterworth, Chief Executive of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority said: “Don’t be the person that thinks ‘I’ll pop to the Dales because it’ll be quiet’. Don’t be the person that thinks, ‘it’s Easter, we can stay at the holiday house’. And don’t be the person that thinks it’ll be fine to come cycling with friends.

“We heard these excuses last weekend and it’s unacceptable. The public must not make unnecessary trips to, or around the National Park, whether visitor or local. Our Ranger Service will be out this Easter weekend supporting North Yorkshire and Cumbria Police to encourage people to heed this advice”.

As a reminder, people should only go outside alone or with members of their own household, and to keep at least 2 metres apart from anyone outside their household.

Leaving the house is only acceptable for one of four reasons:

Shopping for basic necessities, for example, food and medicine, which must be as infrequent as possible.
One form of exercise a day, for example, a run, walk, or cycle – alone or with members of your household.
Any medical need, or to provide care or to help a vulnerable person.
Travelling to and from work, but only where this absolutely cannot be done from home.

David Butterworth added: “We are conscious of the need - while everyone is staying home - to bring some of the outdoors, indoors. So we’ve created some great online content to help families connect with nature while they’re at home. There are links to a number of bird and butterfly surveys, the chance to hear the iconic call of Curlew, tips for experiencing our magical dark sky and a daily ‘window’ into the Dales on our social media channels”.

“The Yorkshire Dales will still be here when this is all this over, so stay home, enjoy a taste of the outdoors, indoors and have a good Easter weekend”.

https://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/be-inspired/blog/