State of the Park

What is the state of the Lake District National Park?

Everyone has a role to play in protecting and conserving the special qualities that make the Lake District National Park England’s finest landscape.

And by everyone, we mean everyone. From the Lake District National Park Authority to The National Trust, residents to businesses, national and international organisations to community groups, young and old.

But for everyone to contribute, we need an accurate picture of the condition of the National Park’s special qualities. If elements are being damaged, lost or destroyed then we all need to know so we can take action.

State of the Park Report

The State of the Park Report 2005 (opens Document Library) provides analysis of each indicator and the benchmark from which we can measure any changes in the future. We want to collect the information regularly to have an accurate picture of the National Park at any one time.

To gather up to date information on the condition of the National Park, we have brought together many organisations to help us. And because we can not measure everything, we have agreed the most important elements to provide strong indicators about its health.

Here is a sample of the chosen indicators, grouped according to the themes set out in the National Park Management Plan.

• Sustainable communities - the ratio of house prices to income
• Transport- the profile of vehicles using roads
• Historic environment - the numbers and condition of individual archaeological or historic environment assets
• Tourism - the number of tourism related jobs
• Access and recreation - profiles of activities such as cycling
• Farming - percentage of farming business income from non-farming enterprise
• Landscape - fell path erosion scars based on width and depth criteria
• Nature conservation - condition of Sites of Special Scientific Interest
• Education, interpretation and information - economic value of the outdoor education sector and range of provision

A Social and Economic Profile of the Lake District National Park

We asked Land Use Consultants to undertake a study of A Social and Economic Profile of the Lake District National Park (opens Document Library). The report was commissioned to provide information about four settlements in the National Park for discussion at the Examination in Public of the Cumbria and Lake District Joint Structure Plan in 2004. The report is full of fascinating facts and comment about broader issues in the National Park.

Contact us

Email stateofthepark@lake-district.gov.uk for more information or questions.