The Council for National Parks (CNP) has released a report on the impact of military training on national parks.

The research – titled Wild but not free: military training in national parks and a continuing need? – highlights the conflict between some military training activities and national parks. It also recommends ways in which the impacts could be reduced and calls for an independent inquiry.

Activities such as firing live ammunition, training with heavy artillery weapons and low flying fighter planes can result in access bans, visual intrusion and noise disturbance for visitors and wildlife.

CNP head of policy Ruth Chambers said: “We accept that the armed forces need to train in the UK and that it would be unreasonable and impractical to argue that all military training in national parks should cease. The key issue is whether all the training that happens in national parks needs to happen there and whether military intensification in national parks is acceptable.

“Given the importance of the national parks as national breathing spaces where millions of people seek tranquillity and wildness, we question whether the public interest is best served by continuing military training at current levels.” Details: www.cnp.org.uk