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Why do people visit the Lake District?
The Lake District has 101 Sites of Special Scientific
Interest (SSSI).
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Twelve million people visit the Lake District each year. Most tourists concentrate in several ‘honeypots’ in the Lake District, such as
Ambleside.
A ‘honeypot’ is an area which attracts many tourists. It normally contains tourist facilities such
as cafes, shops and toilets.
Where do people visit within the Lake District?
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Grasmere – another Lake District ‘honeypot’
Grasmere’s population can swell from 800 people to 10,000 on a sunny, summer’s day!
Former home of William Wordsworth
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What facilities have been provided for tourists?
Lake Windermere
Bowness
What impact do they have upon the landscape?
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Who uses the National Parks?
Use the pictures to help you name the different groups.
Tourists
Farmers
Local Residents
Ministry of Defence
Industry
Water Companies
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Mining, quarrying and other industrial activities create jobs but tend to ruin the environment.
The Ministry of Defence needs remote land for manoeuvres; Water Authorities need uplands for reservoirs.
Industry/Ministry of Defence/Water Authorities
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Farmers want to protect their land and livestock and increase their revenue.Tourists may leave gates open; they may stray off the footpaths and damage crops; they may stray off paths and cause soil erosion.
Farmers
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Ambleside
Local residents want to preserve their community services and they need access to jobs. Impact of second homes? Tourists can be noisy, drop litter and cause congestion.
Local residents
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‘I have a Summer job at ‘Hilltop’ (Beatrix Potter’s house) at Sawrey in the Summer in the National Trust shop.’
‘I run a Bed and Breakfast in Ambleside and I am always full in the summer.’
What are the advantages and disadvantages of living in a National Park?
‘My son has had to move to Kendal, outside the National Park, because the housing is too expensive here.’
‘I love having the Lakes on my doorstep. We often go for walks on a Sunday.’
‘We would like to change the expensive sash windows in our Grasmere home to cheaper and more efficient PVC windows. But we have been told by the council that we live in a ‘Conservation Area’ and we must preserve the outside appearance of our house.’
‘I live in Grasmere. I find that some tourists can be inconsiderate to the local population. They drop litter and park on grass verges outside my house. I have to travel to Windermere, 17kms away, to do my shopping. In Grasmere, there is only one shop selling basic goods compared to 24 tourist shops.’
‘In Windermere over 15% of houses are second homes or holiday homes not in permanent occupation. This means that in the Winter some of our services close down due to a lack of customers.’
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Tourists are a diverse group (ramblers; nature lovers; mountain bikers; climbers; bird watchers). They want access to the countryside and facilities for their own activities.
Tourists
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Tourist pressure in the Lake District
What problems do tourists cause?
Parking in Bowness-on-Windermere
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What are the solutions to tourist pressure in the Lake District?
Speed restrictions on the lakes e.g. 10mph on Lake Windermere
Traffic restrictions
Repair stone walls and eroded footpaths e.g. footpath repair at Dollywagon PikePlant trees to screen car parks and industry
Park and ride schemes
Limit car parking
Ban vehicle access
Ban powerboats on the lakes
Improve public transport
Ban second homes
Encourage ‘time share’ holiday homese.g. Great Langdale holiday homes
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