UK site bids for Unesco world heritage status

This article was first published by The Guardian.

The historic city centre of York and ancient settlements in Shetland are among seven sites backed by the UK government to win Unesco world heritage status, it has been announced.

York, which boasts the Minster and enjoys a rich history bequeathed by its Anglo-Saxon, Viking and Norman inhabitants, and three ancient settlements known as the “zenith of iron age Shetland” join five other sites announced on the “tentative list” to bid for the status.

Birkenhead Park, which opened in 1847 as a pioneering project to bring greenery to urban environments providing a blueprint for municipal planning, is also on the list.

The tentative list, published about every 10 years by the government, sets out the sites from across the UK and overseas territories whose bids are felt to have the best chance of winning status as one of the most extraordinary places on the planet. The government will now work with local authorities and devolved administrations to develop their bids.