UK Protected Landscapes 2026 Youth Voice Conference
From 7 to 11 May 2026
Organised and hosted by North York Moors National Park Youth Voice to bring young people together from other protected landscapes in the UK.
Youth Voice Action Planning at the conference invited contributions from the young people (aged 18 to 30 years) who attended the conference from the North York Moors National Park, Exmoor National Park, Yorkshire Dales National Park, EUROPARC Youth Council, Lake District National Park, Ring of Gullion Area of Outstanding National Beauty, Belfast Hills Partnership, New Forest National Park and Peak District National Park.
Questions like ‘What does Youth Voice mean to you?’, ‘What would you like to see from your own protected area in terms of Youth Voice?’, ‘What do you think are the best ways of spreading the word about Youth Voice in the nature sector?’ and ‘Think of one action you can do to continue the network we have started at this conference.’
What Matters Most?
“Empowering young people to play more of an active role in protecting and managing protected landscapes”, “Valuing, respecting and empowering young people – and recognising that our thoughts are important”, “Non-tokenistic youth involvement”, “Being heard, respected and taken seriously”, “Keep doing more – more co-opted members, start a youth council”, “Not just wheeled out at events but integrated into the authority structure”, “Become an independent group that challenges the authority”, “Ensure Youth Voice volunteer hours are tracked – show our value!”, “Working with local universities and centres for National Parks and protected areas”, “Creating a database of all the youth groups in the UK so that young people can look on a map for their nearest group especially if they move away for uni/jobs or for any events if they are visiting the areas i.e. volunteering/workshops”
Blogs and Reports from this first fully youth-led conference can be found below:
1. Landscapes Northern Ireland participants report: click here
2. Hannah Jennison, PR Assistant, Lake District National Park Authority, click here
3. Reflections from the UK Protected Landscapes Youth Voice Conference by Hayley Quarrington, EUROPARC Youth Council member, Project Coordinator at Peak District National Park Authority.
I recently had the opportunity to attend the UK Protected Landscapes Youth Voice Conference, created and hosted by North York Moors Youth Voice. As the first fully youth-led conference, it brought together youth voice groups from protected areas across the UK to share ideas, learn from one another, and start shaping a stronger collective vision for youth voice in protected landscapes.
The schedule was packed full of fun, interesting and meaningful activities including a Dementia Friends session from the Alzheimer’s Society, a talk from NYMNPA CEO Tom Hind, learning about the Natural Health Service and nature prescriptions with NYMNPA, creative led sessions with Campaign for National Parks Reimagined project and REConnect (River Esk Connect project), and also study tours to see Fylingdales Moor where last year’s large wildfire occurred, and to Boggle Hole for rock pooling. We also had a mindfulness walk in the local woodland, and a campfire the final night as a conference celebration.
One of the most interesting things about the conference was the mix of groups in the room. Some were already well established and working independently, while others were still in the early stages or had not yet formally formed. That made the event feel especially valuable, as it created space not only for sharing successes but also for learning, encouragement, and honest discussion about what youth voice can look like in different places.
The protected area youth voice groups represented included North York Moors, Yorkshire Dales, Lake District, Peak District, New Forest, Exmoor, Northern Ireland National Landscapes, and the EUROPARC Federation Youth Council.
I attended the conference in three capacities: as a member of the EUROPARC Youth Council, as a member of the New Forest Youth Board, and as part of the Peak District Youth Impact Collective, which I recently joined through my new role at PDNPA. That gave me a really interesting perspective, as I was able to take part in conversations from several different angles and think about how these networks can connect and support one another.
As members of the EUROPARC Youth Council based in the UK, Hermione and I also work closely with the EUROPARC Atlantic Isles section, which is strongly committed to increasing youth involvement and strengthening young people’s voices in its work. So far, that has included webinars designed for and delivered by young people, a dedicated youth page on the website, and a small WhatsApp community to help people stay connected and share opportunities.
Each youth voice group gave a short presentation introducing who they are, how they work, and the protected landscape they represent. These sessions were a great way to understand the different models already in place and to see the variety of ways young people are influencing decision-making in protected areas.
Together with Hermione, I presented on the EUROPARC Youth Council, our roles within both the Youth Council and EUROPARC Atlantic Isles, and how that work links into the wider EUROPARC Federation. We also spoke about upcoming work, including Youth in Parks Day, and the opportunities it creates to celebrate and strengthen young people’s involvement in protected areas.
Some of my favourite parts of the conference were the creative activities. They offered a different kind of space for expression through drawing, painting, and clay modelling, and they made the event feel open, thoughtful, and energising.
Campaign for National Parks also ran a workshop on an upcoming funded project, which inspired me to start a mini-zine exploring both the project itself and my own hopes for the future of national parks in the UK. It was one of those moments that sparked ideas straight away.
The REConnect project was especially inspiring and gave me some strong ideas for the Landscape Connections project in the Peak District. I also tried lino printing and clay modelling. Neither turned out quite as I had imagined, but I enjoyed the process, and that felt just as important as the final result.
Overall, the conference exceeded my expectations. It was an inspiring opportunity to meet like-minded young people who are passionate about nature, their protected areas, and strengthening youth voice. Just as importantly, it created space for conversations about how we can work together more effectively, support the growth of a national youth voice network, and potentially make this an annual event hosted by a different protected area each year.
For me, the conference absolutely fulfilled the reason I wanted to attend. It deepened my understanding of the different ways youth voice is developing across the UK, strengthened connections with other groups, and left me feeling genuinely optimistic about what could come next.
Looking ahead, the EUROPARC Youth Council’s next project is Youth in Parks Day. After the conference, it feels as though there is real momentum behind this work, and I am excited by the possibility of more youth groups coming together to celebrate young people in protected areas and share their ideas, creativity, and leadership.
EUROPARC Atlantic Isles is well placed to help support that journey by creating opportunities for cross-protected area learning, connection, and shared good practice. If the conference showed anything, it is that there is real value in bringing young people together, and that a stronger national youth voice is both possible and worth building.
Thank you to the NYM Youth Voice team for organising an amazing conference, and to all the staff and speakers that made the weekend so special.