MARK ECCLES
Head of Park Management, LDNP
It is England’s most loved national park, and since being awarded World Heritage status in 2017 the Lake District has only got busier. With more than 3000km of Lakeland paths to care for, Mark’s role certainly keeps him on his toes.
Mountain paths exist because, historically, these were the routes people used to carry out their work and everyday lives. Activities such as mining, quarrying and farming have shaped the Lake District’s landscape over centuries. These trade trails are the same fell paths people walk, cycle and horse ride on now.
In theory, people can walk where they want across the mountains and moors of the Lake District on land that’s designated as open access, which totals over 500 square miles in the national park. However, because people generally don’t want to walk over rough fells they tend to stick to the paths.
Some routes are more popular than others, of course, as more than 15 million annual visitors to the Lake District seek out classic views and access to specific crags, lakes, tarns, historic sites and summits. Such paths, therefore, are more prone to wear and tear.
We are always encouraging visitors to the Lakes to be mindful of their surroundings and do what they can to help us keep the park a special place. One of the easiest things hillwalkers can do to help is sticking to the paths to avoid further erosion.
Environmentally, we need to make a real effort to reduce sedimentation caused
“THE COST OF PATH EROSION WILL BE AT LEAST £500,000 A YEAR FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS”
by soil erosion running off the fellsides and affecting water-based life in rivers and lakes. We are also working to reduce the loss of special and protected habitats through trampled vegetation, and we need to continue to work to reduce the loss of visual amenity and avoid a landscape marked with erosion scars.
Aside from sticking to paths wherever possible, one key thing I could suggest to walkers is we are always on the lookout for volunteers to help us maintain the 3100km of paths and bridleways we have in the lake District.
And, if you’re not able to physically help out on the fells, it’s easy to make a donation towards the upkeep of these wonderful mountain paths. For the next 10 years we project the cost of path erosion to be at least £500,000 a year to restore and repair new and known damage to paths. And at least another £125,000 per year to maintain path work already undertaken.
Ultimately, we’d encourage people to look at our website and see how they can give something back. lakedistrict.gov.uk