Green champion David Bellamy has told national park guardians about the vital role they play in protecting rural communities.

The television personality and environment campaigner was a key speaker in Skipton yesterday at the opening of the annual conference of the Association of National Park Authorities.

He was joined on the platform, at the Hanover Hotel, by Chris Mullin MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions.

National park officers from across Britain gathered to explore how they could improve life in remote rural communities.

The theme of the two-day conference was The Enterprising Environment.

Mr Ballamy was due to talk to delegates during the day about bio-diversity, his speciality.

He said: "The national parks play a vital role in tourism and particularly in exploring how to foster the social and economic well-being of rural areas at the same time as protecting the countryside."

Mr Mullin said: "The national parks provide benefits for the whole nation as well as supporting the people who live and work within them."

The conference attracted about 300 delegates from the 11 national park authorities in England and Wales.

Also attending were representatives from the Government, the environment sector and interest groups involved in the protected areas movement in the UK.

Ian Mercer, secretary-general of the Association of National Parks, said delegates hoped to learn about the impending Government White Paper on the environment and about the new legislation relating to access to the countryside.

"We will be looking at the role national parks can play in being agents for change in remote rural environments and communities and how we can help deliver thriving and vibrant areas for visitors and residents alike," he said.

The national parks of England and Wales cover about ten percent of the two countries and are home to 270,000 people.