The Lake District

Question 1

What tourism does the Lake District attract?

Answer 1

• Hikers
• Boating on lakes
• Rock climbing

Question 2

How has it grown as a tourist destination?

Answer 2

• As holidays increased and people wanted to escape polluted air, LD began to be appreciated in the late 1700s, popularised by Lake Poets eg Wordsworth.
• Introduction of railways in 1840s improved access and demonstrated the area as a mass tourism location.
• Lake District National Park Authority introduced in 1951 who have to approve any developments.
• In 2017, over 19 million visited the Lake District, mainly be over 45s.

Question 3

Environmental impacts of tourism?

Answer 3

GOOD
* Popularity made it a National Park in 1951, granting it special protection to conserve the wildlife.
* In 2017, also became a UNESCO World Heritage site. Protection of wildlife and heritage.

BAD
* Footpath erosion - estimated 10 million people walk on the paths each year. Modern walking boots have deep treads, significant impact mixed with twisting motion. Many paths have a vegetation base, which are being trampled and no longer holding soil together. When muddy, many walkers choose side of path, causing further damage.
* Traffic congestion, 89% arrive by car, highly polluting (air and noise), tail backs can even be seen from mountains.
* Lack of parking, people often park on grass verges, which both damaged them and narrows roads, creating further congestion.

Question 4

Economic impacts of tourism?

Answer 4

GOOD
* Jobs from tourism, and money spent by tourists in honeypots eg Bowness, with their World of Beatric Potter tourist attraction.
* Being a UNESCO World Heritage Site brings in tourists, more being spent into local economy.
* National Trust has raised funds through national; campaigns, donations and subscriptions.

BAD
* House prices are high due to second homes. Many of local population work in tourism where wages are low and jobs are seasonal, unable to afford homes. Locals often forced to migrate out. In Elterwater, over 80% of properties are holiday homes. Local school struggling for pupil numbers and post office has shut down. GP under threat as they receive funding based on number of patients registered.

Question 5

Social impacts of tourism?

Answer 5

GOOD
* National Trust owns and leases land for farmers (91 farms).

BAD
* House price point.
* Traffic congestion, roads re quite narrow, towns and villages constructed before mass car ownership, very busy and overcrowded for locals.

Question 6

How are environmental impacts being managed?

Answer 6

• Footpath erosion managed by ‘Fix the Fells’ group, managed by the National Trust. Done in two main ways; Stone pitching (stones dug into centre of path to create a staircase, providing hard-wearing surface which is low maintenance). BUT expensive (£100 a m) and some ignore path.
  Soil inversion (digging drainage ditch at side of existing path, then putting dug soil alongside ditch to create a solid, hard-wearing path). Cheaper, only £20 per m.
• Go Lakes Travel Programme to sort traffic congestion. Cost 6.9 million, and wanted to make travel more sustainable. Created an additional 50 miles of cycleway, added 5 new bus services, and more. Resulted in a 14.5% reduction in vehicle usage. Also created jobs in scheme.

Question 7

How are economic impacts being managed?

Answer 7

• Jobs from Go Lakes Travel Programme
• Cheaper housing from the local occupancy clauses

Question 8

How are social impacts being managed?

Answer 8

• Local councils constructing more social housing to combat housing issue. BUT waiting list long (3,500 people on it in 2018), also renting doesn’t secure them a home. Properties are private so not a lot authorities can do. Damage to wildlife to just build more.
• Added local occupancy clauses to residential properties so buyers have to prove they will live and work in the area. Should also hopefully reduce house prices as less competition for homes.