The Parks Service has been formally established and today launches its official website at parks.gov.vin, where the register of parks and reserves, visiting information and permit guidance will be published.
Parks, visiting and permits
- Parks and Reserves
The register of six parks and six reserves, 3,094 hectares in all, with the type, area and access arrangements of each.
- Visiting
Opening hours, three visitor centres opening this month, facilities at each site and the rules that apply in every park and reserve.
- Events and Permits
Ten public events and volunteer tasks between 12 September and 31 October 2026, and how to apply for a permit.
- Conservation
Habitat management, species monitoring and the seasonal calendar of work at the six reserves.
- Statistics
The Service's first release: 486,350 visits recorded in the transition period, permits by type and volunteer hours.
- Frequently asked questions
Dogs, cycling, camping, permits and what to do if you find an injured animal or a fallen tree.
Latest announcements
All news- Parks Service Publishes Register of Twelve Parks and Reserves
Six parks and six reserves, 3,094 hectares in all, are entered in the Service's register from today. Opening hours, facilities and the dates on which three visitor centres open are published with it.
- Parks Service Opens Permit Applications and Publishes Autumn Events Programme
Applications for event, filming, aerial, activity, research and access permits are accepted from today. Ten public events and volunteer tasks between 12 September and 31 October 2026 are published with the permit guidance.
- Parks Service Publishes First Visitor Statistics
The Service's first statistical release records 486,350 visits to the twelve parks and reserves between 10 August and 5 September 2026, together with 64 permit applications and 2,340 volunteer hours during the transition period.
About the Service
The Parks Service of the Velocity Interoperability Network is responsible for the parks and reserves of the Velocity Interoperability Network: six parks and six reserves extending to 3,094 hectares, kept by 27 rangers in three area teams.
It maintains the register of sites, sets opening hours and site rules, runs the programme of public events and volunteer tasks, issues permits for organised activity, and manages the habitats and species within the reserves.
Milestones
6 September 2026
Service established
Responsibility for the parks and reserves of the Network, their visitors, the events held in them and the permits that regulate organised activity.
6 September 2026
parks.gov.vin launched
Press releases, the register of parks and reserves, opening hours, site rules and permit guidance published on the official website.
6 September 2026
Register, permits and events programme published
Twelve parks and reserves entered in the register, permit applications opened, the autumn events programme and the first release of visitor statistics published.
Forthcoming
Visitor centres, management plans and quarterly reporting
Three visitor centres open on 12 and 19 September 2026. Management plans for each reserve, the byelaws and the first full quarterly report, covering the quarter ending 30 September 2026, will be announced in the Newsroom.