England's national parks out of reach for poorer people – study

Protected countryside is more than 15 miles away from almost half of the most deprived areas

From Exmoor to Northumberland, the country's poorest people are being denied access to England's most beautiful countryside and missing out on the mental and physical health benefits that can result, research has found.

Almost half of the country's most socially deprived areas are more than 15 miles by road from 10 national parks and 46 areas of outstanding natural beauty (AONB), according to a submission to a government review into how national assets are being managed.