Lake District recognised for its special place in the world

THE Lake District been named as a World Heritage Site, joining the likes of the Taj Mahal, the Great Wall of China and the Grand Canyon on the illustrious list.

It is the UK’S first national park to be awarded the status by Unesco. Lord Clark of Windermere, who chaired the Lake District’s bid, described the decision to recognise its culture, art and literature, as well as its landscape, as “momentous”.

He said: “It is this exceptional blend which makes our Lake District so spectacularly unique and we are delighted Unesco has agreed.”

The Lakes, which is visited by 18 million people every year, was one of 33 sites around the world to be considered by the Unesco committee and was praised for its beauty, farming and the inspiration it has provided to artists and writers.

However, the committee, meeting in Krakow, Poland, suggested that the impact of tourism should be monitored in the area and requested improvements in conservation efforts.

It was the region’s third attempt to be awarded the status and its application was 30 years in the making. The first nomination was as a “mixed” site of natural and cultural merits in 1986, and the second, in the cultural category, was made in the 1989.

The cultural landscape category, which it has now won, was created in 1993 in direct response to the region’s previous nominations.

The Lake District is home to England’s largest natural lake – Windermere – as well as its highest mountain – Scafell Pike.

It is the 31st place in the UK to make the list, following in the footsteps of Stonehenge, the city of Bath and Canterbury Cathedral.