England’s National Park history is much shorter than ours, and there are marked differences of how its parks are run compared to the U.S. National Park System. The National Park and Access to Countryside Act of 1949 was the beginning of England’s eleven National Parks. The major portion of funding comes from the central government with the remainder of the monies coming from local rates, car parks, and fees for guided walks etc.
The main functions of the National Parks are to preserve and
enhance the area’s natural beauty, to promote enjoyment of the area, and to
look after the needs of the local people. England’s National Parks are all
living landscapes as people live and work in the parks. The government does not
own the parks. England’s parks are privately owned and landowners vary from
small homes and farms to major landowners who control thousands of acres. Many
of the major landowners can trace their history back many
The Lake District’s 880 square miles makes it England’s largest National
Park and the second so designated, 1951;
the first park was the Peak District.
The 880 square miles makes a rough circle 35 miles in diameter and
40,000 people live within the park boundaries. William Wordsworth and Beatrix
Potter as well as other poets and authors popularized the area in the mid 18th
century.
Today there are many pressures on
the National Parks. One of the most urgent and biggest problems is the impact
of tourism. The area needs tourist income, but how to control the impact of
many people using and enjoying the landscape. Then there is the need for
tourist facilities, and control of building and type of structures also impact
the growth. The need of the residents is always ever present. Modern farming
methods and commercial forestry are also needs. Erosion is a constant problem,
often caused by people straying off paths destroying vegetation.
Repair of paths is a constant manpower as
well as a financial problem. Leveling walkways, providing disabled
access, identifying drainage problems, replanting and protecting such from
sheep and deer are just some of the problems facing the area. It might be said
that the area has been loved to death. Trying to find a quiet balance is a
challenge.
I’ve hiked and enjoyed several of the country’s
parks and have always been respectful of them as they are a treasure.
England’s
Lake District is picturesque with many low mountains, abundant trees and flora.
Sheep are seen everywhere and we were to learn a lot about them as well as
transit many of their pastures. England has about twenty breeds of
sheep, and the most common are the Herdwick, Blackface, and Swaledale.
Romans came here 2000 years ago and the
Vikings 1000 years ago. The old Roman road is 2480-feet high and one can still
walk the path the Romans used to pull carts. Fell is a Viking word meaning
mountain.
 |
| Good hiking boots needed |
In Grasmere we stayed in a sprawling
Edwardian hotel located on a small lake. Grasmere is a city as well as a lake
and this is where it can be confusing to a stranger. Mere, water, tarn all
designate a lake so to say Lake Grasmere is redundant. Tarn is from a Viking
word meaning tear. There are 247 bodies of water ranging from small to fairly
large in the Lake District.
Buildings and homes in the area are of either native blue or green slate
with slate roofs. Building codes are strict. It is illegal to import stone or
to use any non native stone. Historic preservation dictates that if a building
is torn down it must be replaced the same size and in the same spot. Windermere
is a large lake, 10 ½ X 1 mile, and 276 feet deep. It’s fast flowing water
changes the surface water every three days. Three steamboats sail on the lake.
There are only three lakes in the district that allow motors, two have 10 mph
speed limits and Windermere is the only lake with unlimited motor rules.
However, because of erosion and pollution a study of that was underway.
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