National Parks Week runs from Monday 24 July until Sunday 30 July, celebrating all fifteen UK National Parks with the theme of ‘bringing people together’. Parks are excellent for shooting locations, giving beautiful landscapes and the opportunity to capture your loved ones in candid poses as they enjoy mother nature.

The 15 UK National Parks include:

• Broads
• Brecon Beacons
• Cairngorms
• Dartmoor
• Exmoor
• Lake District
• Loch Lomond and the Trossachs
• New Forest
• Northumberland
• North York Moors
• Peak District
• Pembrokeshire Coast
• South Downs
• Yorkshire Dales

#NationalParksWeek activities

As part of National Parks Week, there are lots of activities to get involved in. You can go for a walk with a park ranger with a choice of themed walks to take part in, learn advanced navigation using a compass or maybe cycle one of the family-friendly trails.

For the children, you can get them into ‘earth exploring’ and wildlife spotting challenges or simply go on a long walk to enjoy some fresh hair. All wonderful things to do and sure to provide some wonderful photographs – maybe even a canvas print!

Yorkshire Dales National Park

26 July

A free drop-in event is taking place on 26 July named ‘Wild Wednesday’ for accompanied 5 to 12-year-olds. Just bring shoes you can paddle in and a towel! Intriguing…

Pembrokeshire Coast National Park

28 July

‘Go Wild in the Woods’ at Castell Henllys iron age village with nature engagement workshops, so you can experience this beautiful park in a new way. Discover mini beasts, pond dipping, working with clay and den building!

Northumberland National Park

29 July

On Saturday, Northumberland National Park will open its £14.8m visitor centre on Hadrian’s Wall. Called ‘The Sill’, the result of a partnership with YHA (England and Wales) and a Heritage Lottery Fund grant of £7.8m. Exhibitions, a café, an arts and crafts shop and YHA are part of the new centre.

Photography opportunities

As well as snapping away at your family having fun at one of the UK’s national parks, there is also the opportunity to capture nature, including the smallest of creatures. Our introduction to insect macro photography will have you taking pictures of the tiniest of earth’s inhabitants like a pro. Think of close-up shots of a caterpillar or getting so close that you can count the spots on a ladybird.

Heading to the park with your camera is also a great way to practice your landscape photography. Sunrise and sunset will provide colourful skies and the perfect lighting for some canvas-worthy images.

So which park is closest to you, and how can you get involved in National Parks Week? Share your photographs with UK National Parks using @uknationalparks and the hashtag #NationalParksWeek.