Ian Parkin is an independent Interpretive, Heritage and Tourism Consultant with over 20 years experience in the feasibility, planning, design, development and management of visitor destinations including natural, built and cultural heritage sites, protected landscapes, visitor centres, interpretive centres, museums, visitor attractions, country parks, woodlands, canals and tourist information centres.

Ian had nineteen years experience in City, New Town and Metropolitan County local government as a Town Planner and Landscape Architect.  As Assistant Chief Landscape Architect of the Warrington and Runcorn Development Corporation he was responsible for developing Risley Moss Nature Reserve and Visitor Centre and the new urban park system with its nationally acclaimed park ranger, environmental education and ‘after-care’ service.  Both projects received recognition in the 1984 Carnegie Interpret Britain Awards.  Was part of the team that established the Mersey Valley Countryside Management Project which was the forerunner of the Mersey Forest.

Subsequently, as Chief Landscape Architect for West Midlands County Council, he was responsible for the implementation of major road landscaping, countywide, environmental improvement and derelict land programmes, countryside management, country park development, the restoration of a 1680-1730 English Formal Garden at Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens and a number of public art and environmental education projects, with a particular emphasis on community involvement and the role of the voluntary sector.  This included establishing the West Midlands Environment Network and the Centre for Urban Ecology.

Has been a member of the Association for Heritage Interpretation since its establishments in 1976.  Secretary 1980-86, Vice Chairman 1986-88, Chairman 1988-90, Theme Chairman Second World Congress on Interpretation at Warwick 1988, established and managed the Interpret Britain Awards for outstanding interpretive practice 1983-90 (still running and going from strength to strength).  Elected Fellow of the Association 2001 for an outstanding contribution to the field of interpretation in the UK.

Established First Interpreters in 1985 which achieved national recognition.  His particular expertise lies in initial feasibility, interpretive planning, urban and countryside planning, cultural heritage, tourism and marketing, project management, business planning and funding. He has worked with the majority of the national agencies in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland over the last 25 years together with many local authorities, private companies, trusts and voluntary organisations.

He was part-time Director of Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens Trust (1986-1989); Chairman Royal Town Planning Institute Environmental Education Group (1987-1989); Executive Committee, Council for Environmental Education (1982-1989); Board Member Heritage Interpretation International (1980–present).  He was awarded the British Travel Education Trust Overseas Study Award (1987) to study interpretive initiatives in inner cities in the United States including New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, Boston, Chicago and San Francisco.

Between October 1992 - August 1996 he established and developed Parkin Heritage and Tourism Consultants providing a high quality professional consultancy service nationwide and has continued to work under this name as a freelance consultant working with a wide range of other professional practices, large and small, as appropriate.  He offers a highly personal service bringing many years hands-on experience from over 650 assignments and a reputation for quality and value for money.

 
Undertook a UK: USA Countryside Exchange in October 2000 working with the community of Vernon, New Jersey and was a member of the Countryside Agency’s Renaissance Advisory Group (2000–2002).

His recent work has included projects in Ireland, Holland, Belgium, Hungary and Romania and he is always eager to accept new challenges to help agencies, partnerships and organisations achieve their aspirations.  A key emphasis of his work is extensive consultation, particularly with local communities, to generate involvement and a sense of ownership.