Lake District set to gain millions for conservation works (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Lake District set to gain millions for conservation works

5:50pm Monday 8th March 2010 in

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THE Lake District is set to benefit from millions of pounds worth of funding for conservation work over the next four years.

The Environmental Land Management Service, ELMS, which has been hailed as one of the biggest management initiatives ever seen in the area, has already brought £2.5m to farm businesses taking part in the scheme over the past year.

Project co-ordinator Sam Lumb said ELMS was one of the most significant schemes ever under-taken by national park staff, and would make a ‘huge difference to the countryside’.

He said: “No one can over estimate its importance. It is seeing 42km of hedgerow planted and restor-ed, along with 12km of dry stall walling, 2,300 new trees, over 700 traditional gates and 35 farm buildings renov-ated.”

ELMS is now working on projects for 10 archaeology sites, with another nine in the pipeline, as well as hay meadow restoration, fencing for woodlands, riverbanks and steep gills, improve-ments to peat and breeding waders’ habitats and bracken control.

Mr Lumb said: “This funding is a considerable boost not just to our world renowned landscape, but to farm businesses and the local economy. In the long term, ELMS will benefit all those living and working in the national park, along with its 8.3 million annual visitors.”

The Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA) anticipates that by working closely with Natural England and the National Trust, mulit-million pound funding from environmental steward-ship schemes could be secured. LDNPA rangers have been working alongside Natural England advisers, liaising with landowners and tenants to help identify schemes and apply for grants.

Rangers have received almost 200 inquiries from farmers and landowners and helped with 140 conservation plan applications.

Most of the Lake District’s farmland is currently in the Environmentally Sensitive Area scheme, which will end in 2014, but is expected to come into Higher Level Stew-ardship (HLS).

Mt Lumb said: “The focus is now on environmental stew-ardship through HLS.

“We are looking forward to exciting and rewarding times ahead.”