This spatial dataset contains the digital boundaries of National Parks, which are statutory landscape designations in Wales. Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has a legal duty to maintain and make available National Park boundaries.
National Parks are designated for the purposes of conserving and enhancing the natural beauty, wildlife, and cultural heritage and for the public to enjoy the special qualities of these nationally important landscapes.
NRW is the designating authority for any new National Parks in Wales or boundary variations to existing ones, however these must be confirmed by Welsh Ministers. NRWs statutory powers derive from the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act (NPAC) 1949 and Environment Act 1995. The Environment Act (1995) established National Park Authorities, as independent Special Purpose Local Authorities to administer the National Park area in order to deliver their statutory purposes.
Three National Parks have been designated in Wales: Snowdonia 1951 (variation 1974); Pembrokeshire Coast 1952 (Variation 1989); and Brecon Beacons 1955 (Variation 1966).
The data has been held digitally since the mid-1990s. The boundary has been transferred to OS MasterMap by NRW and has been subject to joint checking by NRW staff and the relevant Park authority staff.
