Countryside and Conservation
What is conservation?
A dictionary defines conservation as `to keep entire' or `to preserve', but it can also mean `keep' in the sense of `to look after' or `to take care of'.
Conservation is often used when we talking about nature, such as wildlife, trees, water and the land itself. A flower is preserved if it is pressed between the pages of a book. It is conserved if it is protected to continue growing in its natural habitat.
Can't natural things they look after themselves?
Many people think our countryside will always look the same as it does now. Sadly, this may not be true. Human beings have always relied on nature for their survival. We need plants and animals for food. We need the land to grow the food as well as to provide materials such as stone and wood for our buildings. We fish the rivers, lakes and seas to supply other types of food. And we mine below the earth's surface to find important substances such as oil, coal and metal ores.
As well as making use of nature to help us survive, we also use it for pleasure and sport. We go for walks in the countryside, we camp, we climb the mountains, go cycling - all sorts of activities that make use of nature and the landscape.
Other ways we use nature in our daily lives and for pleasure
We don't live in a museum but in a living, growing and changing environment. If there is a good balance between the needs of a man and the needs of nature, there should be few problems. But there are too many of us, all wanting too much and taking too much from the natural world. So something needs to be done. The balance needs to be restored.
Conservation should allow positive changes to take place while, at the same time, trying to look after what we have. Conservation concerns people all over the world.
Conservation in National Parks
In the late 1940s and 1950s the government realised that Britain contained beautiful and unique country areas which could be enjoyed by the thousands of people living in cities and industrial towns. These unique areas were themselves in danger of being spoiled by the spread of industry. The areas which are National Parks today were chosen partly because they provide opportunities for outdoor activities. Many people visit National Parks for holidays but people also live permanently within these areas too.
The Lake District National Park Authority
Each National Park Authority is obliged by law to work to protect and conserve the area. All the people employed by the Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA) are, in some way or other, concerned with the protection and conservation of the whole of the Lake District. Our first concern is to conserve and protect the landscape of the Lake District.
We work closely with other bodies such as:
- The National Trust - a charity which owns and preserves a lot of land as well as properties such as farms, cottages and stately homes.
- Natural England - the public body which is responsible for the protection of plants, animals and habitats
- The British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) - a charity which attracts people who would like to do some practical conservation work such as repairing dry stone walls and eroded footpaths.
- The Friends of the Lake District (FLD)- a charity and pressure group which fights any threats to the landscape of Cumbria and pressurises official bodies to act.
