Lake District wins UNESCO World Heritage Status
10th July 2017
The Lake District is UK’s first national park to win UNESCO World Heritage Status and joins the Taj Mahal, the Great Wall of China and the Grand Canyon in being given one of the highest accolades on the planet.
With its rolling hills, spectacular mountains and stunning lakes, the Lake District not only finds itself in illustrious company, but also becomes the United Kingdom’s first national park to be granted the World Heritage Status by UNESCO.
UNESCO say, “Located in northwest England, the English Lake District is a mountainous area, whose valleys have been modelled by glaciers in the Ice Age and subsequently shaped by an agro-pastoral land-use system characterized by fields enclosed by walls.
The combined work of nature and human activity has produced a harmonious landscape in which the mountains are mirrored in the lakes.
Grand houses, gardens and parks have been purposely created to enhance the beauty of this landscape. This landscape was greatly appreciated from the 18th century onwards by the Picturesque and later Romantic movements, which celebrated it in paintings, drawings and words. It also inspired an awareness of the importance of beautiful landscapes and triggered early efforts to preserve them.”
Three key themes underpinned the bid for World Heritage Site status, recognising the Lake District National Park as a cultural landscape of international significance. These include world ranking examples of identity – the dramatic farmed landscape; inspiration – art, literature and love of the place. This in turn sparked the birth of conservation – people fought and invested to look after this special corner of England.
Lord Clark of Windermere explained, “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.”
Lake District National Park Chief Executive, Richard Leafe, said there was great excitement over the achievement.
Richard said, “The Lake District is an evolving landscape that has changed over time and will continue to do so. Improving landscape biodiversity and looking after our cultural heritage underpin the Partnership’s management plan which sets out how, together, we will look after the National Park as a World Heritage Site for everyone to enjoy.”
Staying in the Lake District
Holiday Cottages Cumbria have 7 gorgeous Lake District cottages that are ideal places to stay whilst you visit the World Heritage national park.
You can see our cottage here>>>>