New Northumberland National Park head appointed

Jean Davidson has been appointed chair of the Northumberland National Park Authority board, taking over from Cllr Glen Sanderson, who is now the leader of Northumberland County Council.

Ms Davidson, who lives in Kirknewton, near Wooler, has been a board member since 2014 and previously served as deputy chair. She is currently estate manager for the Westnewton Estate in the north of the National Park.

“I am greatly honoured to have been elected as the chairman of Northumberland National Park Authority,” she said.

“It has been my privilege to be deputy to Glen Sanderson for the last five years. Glen has been an excellent chairman and raised the profile of Northumberland National Park both locally in the North East and at a national level.”

She added: “I look forward to working with our dedicated staff and board members, who all play a vital part in the success of Northumberland National Park. While we have challenging times ahead, I am confident we will get through them with ambition and bravery.

“Northumberland National Park Authority, together with all the UK National Parks, will play a significant part in the nation’s Green Recovery Plan.”

The park’s CEO, Tony Gates, was ‘excited’ to welcome Ms Davidson to the helm, adding: “In doing so, I pay a great tribute to our former chairman, Glen Sanderson, who has steered the authority successfully through some seminal times, including the completion and opening of The Sill National Landscape Discovery Centre.

“For the past six years, Jean has worked tirelessly to support the park during a truly transformative time, and I’m grateful to the work she has done for us so far and the vision she is now bringing to the role of chairman.”

Her appointment follows the addition to the board in July of Elizabeth Ellis, policy project manager at the National Lottery Heritage Fund, and Marie Fallon, former director of regulated industry at the Environment Agency, as Secretary of State members.

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