THE Minister for Sport and Tourism had an ‘absolutely fantastic’ time at Windermere attraction Treetop Nets as she visited the Lake District to set out her vision for the future of outdoor recreation.

Helen Grant MP, a Cumbrian herself, showed her love of the great outdoors as she bounced on the net adventure park which opened last year, before speaking at the Low Wood Bay hotel, Windermere, where the Outdoor Industries Association was hosting its annual conference yesterday (Monday).

After enjoying Treetop Nets at Brockhole – the Lake District Visitor Centre, she said: “That was such great fun – I absolutely loved it.

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"We were only on there for around half an hour and that was enough to tire us out, but it didn’t feel like exercise. Treetop are showing real innovation in putting together something like this.”

Owner of Treetop Nets and Treetop Trek, Mike Turner, said he was ‘delighted’ the minister had chosen to visit the attraction and that she had ‘got involved and taken part’.

“We are all about getting fit without realising it, and this seemed something Helen Grant was really keen to promote,” he added.

The MP then headed to the Low Wood Bay hotel where she talked about her desire for a national strategy on outdoor recreation.

“I want people participating in sport and think that there is a tremendous opportunity in the outdoor recreation industry to do this,” she said.

“Pushing sports like football and rugby might be a push too far for some people but this doesn't mean there aren't other ways they can exercise and get fit – that has been shown this morning on Treetop Nets.”

Managing director of Cumbria Tourism, Ian Stephens, said: “The Lake District and Cumbria provides the ideal environment for getting fit and healthy and any initiative that puts the spotlight on this and the wonderful outdoor offer is welcomed."