Fix the Fells

1. The Lake District National Park is one of the most spectacular and much loved landscapes in Britain. This view shows many of the features which make the Lake District special. Skiddaw, one of the highest mountains, rises above the town of Keswick to the right of the picture. The valley is a mixture of farmland and woodland with Bassenthwaite Lake is in the background. The Lake District National Park is one of the most spectacular and much loved landscapes in Britain. This view shows many of the features which make the Lake District special. Skiddaw, one of the highest mountains, rises above the town of Keswick to the right of the picture. The valley is a mixture of farmland and woodland with Bassenthwaite Lake is in the background.

2. The Lake District National Park is one of 14 National Parks in Britain (South Downs becomes the fifteenth on March 31 2010). The Lake District National Park is one of 14 National Parks in Britain (South Downs becomes the fifteenth on March 31 2010).

3. To look after the natural beauty, wildlife, culture and traditions of the Lake District To help people understand and enjoy the things which are special about the National Park To help local people who live in the Lake District The Lake District National Park Authority works with others This slide is a simplified version of the National Park Purposes and Duties. The official ones are : Purposes To conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the Lake District To promote opportunities for understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the National Park And a duty To foster the economic and social wellbeing of local communities within the park.This slide is a simplified version of the National Park Purposes and Duties. The official ones are : Purposes To conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the Lake District To promote opportunities for understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the National Park And a duty To foster the economic and social wellbeing of local communities within the park.

4. Can feet wear away a mountain? Every year millions of visitors enjoy a The Lake District receives 8.3 million visitors each year. 65% say they come for the spectacular scenery and 87% say they go for a walk while they are here. This puts a lot of pressure on footpaths. Every year millions of visitors enjoy a The Lake District receives 8.3 million visitors each year. 65% say they come for the spectacular scenery and 87% say they go for a walk while they are here. This puts a lot of pressure on footpaths.

5. With millions of feet trampling the hills every year many of the footpaths are becoming very seriously eroded. This one on Coledale Hause was one of the most seriously eroded creating a gorge deep enough to hide a man. Erosion like this makes paths impossible to walk on. Many other paths with less serious erosion have become unpleasant to use. Erosion is bad for walkers, for the tourist industry and the economy as well as being a blot on the landscape.With millions of feet trampling the hills every year many of the footpaths are becoming very seriously eroded. This one on Coledale Hause was one of the most seriously eroded creating a gorge deep enough to hide a man. Erosion like this makes paths impossible to walk on. Many other paths with less serious erosion have become unpleasant to use. Erosion is bad for walkers, for the tourist industry and the economy as well as being a blot on the landscape.

6. Path Repair Whiteless Pike How does it happen? This path is a classic example of erosion. Thousands of feet trampling the grassy paths is more than the fragile plants can tolerate and the grass dies. The soil is left bare and exposed to wind rain and frost. The soil is thin and fragile and soon gets washed away forming a gully. This is particularly serious on steep slopes where streams can form, increasing the washing away of soil. The path on the left has become so eroded that peple have started to walk on the grass on one side and a new erosion scar has already started. If left unrepaired this could quickly lead to a path as wide as a motorway. This path was repaired with large stones which are very hard wearing. It is skilled work and costs a lot of money (around �100 a metre) but it is effective and long lasting. If you see a path like this please keep your feet on the stones to prevent further erosion.How does it happen? This path is a classic example of erosion. Thousands of feet trampling the grassy paths is more than the fragile plants can tolerate and the grass dies. The soil is left bare and exposed to wind rain and frost. The soil is thin and fragile and soon gets washed away forming a gully. This is particularly serious on steep slopes where streams can form, increasing the washing away of soil. The path on the left has become so eroded that peple have started to walk on the grass on one side and a new erosion scar has already started. If left unrepaired this could quickly lead to a path as wide as a motorway. This path was repaired with large stones which are very hard wearing. It is skilled work and costs a lot of money (around �100 a metre) but it is effective and long lasting. If you see a path like this please keep your feet on the stones to prevent further erosion.

7. This kind of repair is useful for paths in the early stages of erosion which are not very heavily used. This pattern of erosion is called pigeon holing and can be reversed if the area is seeded and protected while the young grass gets established. This kind of repair is useful for paths in the early stages of erosion which are not very heavily used. This pattern of erosion is called pigeon holing and can be reversed if the area is seeded and protected while the young grass gets established.

8. Helvellyn is one of the most popular mountains in and a great deal of work hads been done to repair the paths while keeping the mountain looking as natural as possible. Although we try to use local stone for most repairs we had to use a helicopter to fly in bags of stones on Helvellyn. We even had to fly in a digger to do the work.Helvellyn is one of the most popular mountains in and a great deal of work hads been done to repair the paths while keeping the mountain looking as natural as possible. Although we try to use local stone for most repairs we had to use a helicopter to fly in bags of stones on Helvellyn. We even had to fly in a digger to do the work.

9. Mountain tarns can be damaged when soil and rocks from eroded paths get washed into the water. This is bad for animal and plant life in the tarns. Mountain tarns can be damaged when soil and rocks from eroded paths get washed into the water. This is bad for animal and plant life in the tarns.

10. How you can help Place your feet thoughtfully: Keep to the path surface � avoid the vulnerable edges Please don't take shortcuts Remember that stones on the path provide protection � so please don�t remove them to build cairns It really does make a difference if walkers follow a few simple rules of on the footpaths. It is so tempting to cut corners on zig zag paths, particularly going down hill but it quickly causes erosion and spoils all the good work done to repair and drain the path effectively. Most people prefer to walk on soft grass than hard stone surfaces but mountain grasses are very fragile and trampling soon kills them. Walkers should keep to the hard surfaces even if it means walking in single file. It really does make a difference if walkers follow a few simple rules of on the footpaths. It is so tempting to cut corners on zig zag paths, particularly going down hill but it quickly causes erosion and spoils all the good work done to repair and drain the path effectively. Most people prefer to walk on soft grass than hard stone surfaces but mountain grasses are very fragile and trampling soon kills them. Walkers should keep to the hard surfaces even if it means walking in single file.

11. Fix the Fells 2007 - 2011 Aims To repair 70 eroded paths To try to prevent further erosion Total cost �3 million The Fix the Fells Project aims to repair and protect 70 paths in 5 years. It is a partnership between the Lake District National Park, Natural England and the National Trust with funding from the National Lottery, Friends of the Lake District and Lake District Tourism and Conservation Partnership. The Fix the Fells Project aims to repair and protect 70 paths in 5 years. It is a partnership between the Lake District National Park, Natural England and the National Trust with funding from the National Lottery, Friends of the Lake District and Lake District Tourism and Conservation Partnership.

12. Fix the Fells Partners