A FRESH call for a “bridge” between two North national parks has been made.

The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) wants the countryside between the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District to be afforded the same protection as the landscapes contained within the national parks.

The extension is of one several proposals by the charity made on the 60th anniversary of the Act of Parliament, which gave the parks their protection.

Tom Oliver, head of rural policy at CPRE, said: “The power of beautiful places and beautiful views to lift the human spirit and inspire the best in human nature was recognised by the nation’s leaders at a time of austerity and uncertainty.

“That far-sighted action has provided us with one of our greatest natural assets. We need to secure and extend it in the years ahead.”

Creating a bridge between the two national parks has been proposed before.

The area in question lies above the A684 between Kendal and Sedbergh and runs up near Kirkby Stephen to Shap Fells to the north.

A review carried out in 2004 found that the area had not met the criteria for being designated a national park.

CPRE also wants more protection for vulnerable areas such as the Forest of Dean and the English border with Wales.

It claims the country’s best landscapes are under threat from developments such as wind turbines, electricity pylons and a lack of investment in hill farming.

“As we face future challenges of a similar scale and unprecedented pressures on our land and natural resources, Government should again give top priority to beautiful landscapes and the qualities and opportunities they offer us all,” Mr Oliver added.

A spokesman for the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority said the authority would like to see a decision made as soon as possible.