I have now joined the All Party Parliamentary Group on National Parks and this week we held our first meeting, focusing on healing landscapes. We heard from Hollowford Centre, based in the Peak District, and the Nature Health Network, based at Bournemouth University.

The experience of the national lockdown has shown many of us, myself included, just how important access to green space is for our mental health and wellbeing. I know I have valued more than ever taking my dogs for a walk in the beautiful Peaks. I believe that as part of Hallam’s recovery from the pandemic, we should be protecting and opening up our National Parks so more people than ever can access these green spaces.