Mallerstang, in eastern Cumbria, currently lies just north of the Dales national park

The Government’s advisory body on the English outdoors has published the detail of proposals to extend two of the country’s national parks.

Natural England said the public now has six weeks to comment on the plans before Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman makes her final decision.

Ms Spelman will decide whether to confirm the variation orders published by Natural England or whether to make modifications to the proposed boundaries which affect the Yorkshire Dales and Lake District national parks.

Any changes to the boundaries will only take effect once they have received confirmation from the Secretary of State.

David Vose, Natural England’s manager for the Lakes to Dales project said; “After two public consultations and formal agreement by our board, the proposals to extend the two national parks will shortly be submitted to the Secretary of State.

“In the next six weeks, people can send their views to Defra about whether they support the proposals or not, whether there are amendments that they would like to suggest.”

In the Yorkshire Dales National Park the recommended changes affect an area of about 418 sq km (161 sq miles) in Cumbria and Lancashire, in and around the northern Howgill Fells, Wild Boar Fell, Mallerstang and part of the Orton Fells. Other areas scheduled for inclusion in the enlarged Yorkshire Dales park are Middleton, Barbon, Casterton and Leck Fells, part of Firbank Fell, part of the Lune Valley and fells to the west.

In the Lake District national park the recommended changes would include an extra 70 sq km (27 sq miles) in Cumbria, in and around Birkbeck Fells Common, Bretherdale, Borrowdale, Whinfell, Grayrigg and Dillicar Commons and adjacent land, and Helsington Barrows to Sizergh Fell and part of the Lyth Valley and land to the North of Sizergh.

Comments on the plans can be made up to 16 March. Details are on the Natural England website.

Cumbria County Council has pledged to fight the proposed extensions ‘tooth and nail’. Councillor Tim Knowles, the county’s cabinet member responsible for environment, said the extension of the national park is anti-democratic, will make housing even less affordable for local people, and risks undermining key national infrastructure projects for the county.