‘Momentous’ boost for Lake District after landing World Heritage Site status
THE Lake District has been named as a World Heritage Site, Unesco has announced.
The region joins sites including St Kilda, New Lanark and Skara Brae on Orkney on the prestigious list.
Lord Clark of Windermere, who chaired the Lake District’s bid, said the decision to recognise the region’s culture, art and literature, as well as its landscape, was “momentous”.
He said: “It is this exceptional blend which makes our Lake District so spectacularly unique and we are delighted Unesco has agreed.
“A great many people have come together to make this happen and we believe the decision will have long and lasting benefits for the spectacular Lake District landscape, the 18 million visitors we welcome every year and
for the people who call the National Park their home.”
A Unesco committee backed the national park in Cumbria, which is home to England’s highest mountain Scafell Pike.
The bid was formally entered by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and Historic
England and was the UK’s only submission in 2016.
John Glen, minister for arts, heritage and tourism, said: “This decision will undoubtedly elevate the position of the Lake District internationally, boosting tourism and benefiting communities and businesses.”