Winter cheer for frozen fells
12 February 2008
Campaigning and conservation organisation, Friends of the Lake District (FLD), has given the National Park a welcome winter boost. The society has promised to donate £40,000 each year for the next five years as part of the Fix the Fells Appeal to raise almost £3 million towards repairing seriously eroded paths on the fells.
The money will go towards plans to carry out repair work on paths in the Lake District between now and 2011. The restoration work is carried out by the Lake District National Park Authority, National Trust and Natural England and began in 2001. Since that time more than 100 paths have been mended. This latest donation from Friends of the Lake District is on top of more than £150,000 which it has already given over the last five years to help repair well-loved and seriously eroded routes in the National Park and to provide preventative "stitch in time" work.
Policy Officer at FLD Judith Moore said "It's great to contribute to a partnership that is really making a difference in repairing erosion and supporting on-going maintenance once repairs have taken place. This is one way we can help to ensure that people can continue to enjoy the hills".
The project received a boost in 2007 after securing additional lottery funding until 2011. Continuing support also comes from the Tourism and Conservation Partnership, the Ramblers Association and public donations.
"We cannot thank Friends of the Lake District enough for its generosity and commitment to repairing damage caused by the 12 million people who visit our area every year. This represents a fantastic boost to our appeal", said the Lake District National Park Authority's Fix the Fells project officer Richard Fox.
