The Partnership's Plan - Lake District National Park
The Partnership's Plan - Lake District National Park The Partnership's Plan - Lake District National Park
3.6 Education, access and outdoor recreation 3.6.1 Facts and challenges • In the National Park there are over 3,000 kilometres of rights of way and access land covers over 50 per cent of the total land area. • The Cumbria Countryside Access Strategy, published in 2005, aims to improve access for all, enabling people to enjoy the countryside whilst conserving its landscape, ecology and cultural heritage, and improving quality of life in relation to health and climate change benefits of encouraging people to walk and cycle. • In 2007, the National Park Authority established the Windermere Lake User Forum, to advise and guide delivery of the Windermere Management Strategy. • In the National Park, over 5,000 school children and 100 trainee teachers take part in experiential activities and curriculum based learning modules provided by the Field Studies Council, each year. • In 2009 the number of visitors attending National Park Authority events was 27,000. Within that were 380 volunteer led activities. • There are 17 Outdoor Activity Centres in the National Park, all offering a range of nationally accredited governing body awards. 3.6.2 Recent activity and successes An annual action plan of improvements is being implemented to improve countryside access. Some elements of the Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2007, such as strategic cycle routes and hubs, will be included in the Local Transport Plan 2011. These will improve links between the public transport network and walking and cycling routes. The GoLakes and Lake District Outdoors websites and complementary printed material provide the opportunity to spread visitors geographically. Cumbria Tourism is leading work to make Cumbria / the Lake District the Adventure Capital of the UK - the first choice UK destination for outdoor sports and adventure and, with it, more jobs and investment in the industry. In 2005 the National Park Authority surveyed the needs and preferences of existing and latent countryside access users, such as walkers, cyclists and horse-riders. This improved our picture of what different countryside access users want and formed the basis for the Rights of Way Improvement Plan. In 2009 the National Park Authority researched how people use the Lake District's lakes, rivers and coast, to help identify our aims for water-based access and recreation. A strategy and annual action plan was agreed in December 2009. This takes account of the Marine Act, which anticipates improved access to coast, and the Environment Agency's North West Water- Based Recreation Strategy. Recent successes include: The Miles without Stiles project has created 39 routes suitable for people with limited mobility. Wheelchair users, families with pushchairs, dog walkers with less active dogs and the visually impaired can choose a range of routes. 40
The National Park Authority’s Learning Service contract with Field Studies Council has developed free local schools work, forming in depth long term relationships with Cumbrian schools balanced with charged environmental modules, all linked to the National Curriculum. ‘Lakes Alive’ provides a range of new outdoor performance events up to 2012 as part of the Cultural Olympiad. It has successfully raised the quality of provision in this area by bringing together a range of different partner organisations who would not normally work on this type of activity. Adventure Capital is already developing new hubs at Keswick and supports major events such as the Keswick Mountain Festival, Great North Swim and All Season Fred Whitton cycle challenge. Seasonal Crag Restrictions agreed with the Mountain Liaison Group are an exemplar for managing conflict of interests. Flora of the Fells Festival and Environmental Education 2009-2010 and Bassenthwaite Reflections Education Programme both raised public awareness in the value of the uplands, in good land management and linking people’s lifestyles to climate change and water quality. 3.6.3 Opportunities Our rivers, lakes, mountains, valleys and forests offer something for everyone, from adrenalin sports to the quiet enjoyment of a stroll. This encourages active participation, promotes good quality management and increases appreciation of our impact on the landscape. There are many ways that people enjoy the outdoors and some areas should be kept tranquil. Others may be vulnerable to damage, whilst some are suitable for more wild activities. This planning enables people to enjoy the Lakes in a variety of sustainable ways. This plan facilitates the development of new outdoor adventure opportunities and adds value to the National Park's natural assets and rich resource of lakes, mountains, rivers, footpaths, bridleways and forests. It balances the need for tranquillity and protects the assets that people enjoy. There is a marketing advantage to be gained by promoting sustainability in the outdoor market through Adventure Capital. People can learn how to enjoy the hills but also understand that landscape is not free and that they can minimise their impact. And they can put something back in the form of visitor payback. We also want to encourage more local people to use the fells through Adventure Capital. There are opportunities that come from the various strategic programmes – Bassenthwaite Lake Restoration Programme and Windermere Catchment Programme – which improve assets as well as engage visitors and residents in enjoying and understanding the natural environment. Education services are provided across the National Park by a number of providers who remain competitive. There are formal and informal opportunities and the ‘Learning outside the Classroom’ manifesto and ‘Every Child Matters’ provides structure. Alongside facilities for access and recreation, good information enables users and visitors to make the most of their stay. Information provides for a safe and enjoyable visit and assists management. 41
- Page 1 and 2: Partnership The Partnership’s Pla
- Page 3 and 4: Contents Page Foreword 1 Welcome to
- Page 5: Foreword Having been Chairman on th
- Page 8 and 9: Why is the Plan different and what
- Page 10 and 11: Guiding principles for the Partners
- Page 12 and 13: Links to the Local Development Fram
- Page 15 and 16: PART ONE - What the Lake District l
- Page 17 and 18: History of tourism and outdoor acti
- Page 19 and 20: PART TWO - Where we want to be This
- Page 21 and 22: 2.2 Financial commitments All our w
- Page 23 and 24: World class visitor experiences The
- Page 25: Spectacular landscape, wildlife and
- Page 28 and 29: What does it look like now - Specia
- Page 30 and 31: • There are also challenges from
- Page 32 and 33: There needs to be a supply of local
- Page 34 and 35: • Identify, develop and initiate
- Page 36 and 37: 3.4 Prosperous economy - Actions fo
- Page 38 and 39: Action No. Action How Complete by L
- Page 40 and 41: World class visitor experience - Is
- Page 42 and 43: Underlining these five priority act
- Page 46 and 47: Interpretation is more than informa
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- Page 52 and 53: • Cumbria Fells and Dales Local A
- Page 54 and 55: • There is immense pressure on ou
- Page 56 and 57: 3.11.2 Recent activity and successe
- Page 58 and 59: 3.13 Vibrant communities - Actions
- Page 60 and 61: Action No. Action How Complete by L
- Page 62 and 63: Spectacular landscape, wildlife and
- Page 64 and 65: The Low-carbon Lake District work c
- Page 66 and 67: Cumbria Freshwater Invasive Non Nat
- Page 68 and 69: • English Heritage’s Scheduled
- Page 70 and 71: The Cumbrian Fells have provided ac
- Page 72 and 73: 3.5 Spectacular landscape - Actions
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- Page 81 and 82: PART FOUR - Implementing and monito
- Page 83 and 84: 13 Maintain the number of settlemen
- Page 85 and 86: Annex A Statement of Outstanding Un
- Page 87 and 88: Wordsworth’s Romantic vision, sha
- Page 89 and 90: Annex B The Lake District National
- Page 91: Annex C National Park Profile (2009
3.6 Education, access and outdoor recreation<br />
3.6.1 Facts and challenges<br />
• In the <strong>National</strong> <strong>Park</strong> there are over 3,000 kilometres of rights of way and access land<br />
covers over 50 per cent of the total land area.<br />
• <strong>The</strong> Cumbria Countryside Access Strategy, published in 2005, aims to improve access<br />
for all, enabling people to enjoy the countryside whilst conserving its landscape,<br />
ecology and cultural heritage, and improving quality of life in relation to health and<br />
climate change benefits of encouraging people to walk and cycle.<br />
• In 2007, the <strong>National</strong> <strong>Park</strong> Authority established the Windermere <strong>Lake</strong> User Forum, to<br />
advise and guide delivery of the Windermere Management Strategy.<br />
• In the <strong>National</strong> <strong>Park</strong>, over 5,000 school children and 100 trainee teachers take part in<br />
experiential activities and curriculum based learning modules provided by the Field<br />
Studies Council, each year.<br />
• In 2009 the number of visitors attending <strong>National</strong> <strong>Park</strong> Authority events was 27,000.<br />
Within that were 380 volunteer led activities.<br />
• <strong>The</strong>re are 17 Outdoor Activity Centres in the <strong>National</strong> <strong>Park</strong>, all offering a range of<br />
nationally accredited governing body awards.<br />
3.6.2 Recent activity and successes<br />
An annual action plan of improvements is being implemented to improve countryside access.<br />
Some elements of the Rights of Way Improvement <strong>Plan</strong> 2007, such as strategic cycle routes<br />
and hubs, will be included in the Local Transport <strong>Plan</strong> 2011. <strong>The</strong>se will improve links between<br />
the public transport network and walking and cycling routes.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Go<strong>Lake</strong>s and <strong>Lake</strong> <strong>District</strong> Outdoors websites and complementary printed material<br />
provide the opportunity to spread visitors geographically. Cumbria Tourism is leading work to<br />
make Cumbria / the <strong>Lake</strong> <strong>District</strong> the Adventure Capital of the UK - the first choice UK<br />
destination for outdoor sports and adventure and, with it, more jobs and investment in the<br />
industry.<br />
In 2005 the <strong>National</strong> <strong>Park</strong> Authority surveyed the needs and preferences of existing and latent<br />
countryside access users, such as walkers, cyclists and horse-riders. This improved our<br />
picture of what different countryside access users want and formed the basis for the Rights of<br />
Way Improvement <strong>Plan</strong>.<br />
In 2009 the <strong>National</strong> <strong>Park</strong> Authority researched how people use the <strong>Lake</strong> <strong>District</strong>'s lakes, rivers<br />
and coast, to help identify our aims for water-based access and recreation. A strategy and<br />
annual action plan was agreed in December 2009. This takes account of the Marine Act,<br />
which anticipates improved access to coast, and the Environment Agency's North West Water-<br />
Based Recreation Strategy.<br />
Recent successes include:<br />
<strong>The</strong> Miles without Stiles project has created 39 routes suitable for people with limited<br />
mobility. Wheelchair users, families with pushchairs, dog walkers with less active dogs and the<br />
visually impaired can choose a range of routes.<br />
40