The Partnership's Plan - Lake District National Park

3.14.2 Recent activities and successes
The following policy context is relevant:
• The Climate Change Act is the key policy driver.
• UK Low Carbon Transition Plan (published summer 2009) – The UK’s strategy for
meeting national carbon budgets, which envisages a significant role for Local Authorities
as catalysts of low-carbon action.
• Lake District National Park Transport Framework – see Transport section
• North West Climate Change Action Plan – sets out the NorthWest regional approach
• Vital Uplands – a ‘2060 Vision for England’s Upland Environment’ – developed by Natural
England with partners for England’s upland environment in a changing climate.
• English National Park Authorities Association Climate Change Adaptation – a
template has been produced to assist National Park Authorities and their partners in
climate change risk management across a range of themes.
Research for the Low-carbon Lake District was carried out over a period of eight months.
Case studies were selected to reflect a range of private, public and voluntary sector initiatives.
Recent successes include:
Ten case studies are presented in the Low-carbon Lake District Report that provide an
insight into the good work occurring in the Lake District to help address climate change. In
addition:
• Bassenthwaite Reflections provided funding for a demonstration wood fuelled heating
system at Bassenfell Manor.
• There are also a range of woodfuel case studies by the Forestry Commission:
www.forestry.gov.uk
3.14.3 Opportunities
We must keep up to date with the predictions of climate change but also consider the likely
impacts on the Park in the future. These include:
• Extreme weather events, including more intense winter rainfall
• Migration of habitats to higher altitudes and resulting loss of reliant species
• Loss of indigenous species, and an increase in non native species
• Changes to rivers and lakes (water levels , water quality and nutrient status)
• Increased water resource requirement
• Changes to woodlands (storm damage and drought)
• Drying out of peat and
• Accelerated erosion and landslips.
We can respond in two ways; both offer opportunities. We can adapt to climate change
through our organisational strategies. And we can reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and
other greenhouse gases. We need to encourage residents, visitors and businesses to do both,
as they are doing in Patterdale and Borrowdale, for example. Farming communities will need
support in adapting to delivering ecosystem services as part of an integrated and sustainable
business model.
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