4:02pm Thursday 18th March 2010
STRESSED out city workers have been given a breath of fresh air after it was bottled up in the Lake District.
Townend, on Windermere, was one of several rural locations picked to supply the scent of spring to 100 desk-bound office staff in London.
National Trust Head of Communications Andrew McLaughlin said recycled glass jars full of the country atmosphere had been filled with fragrance from beautiful outdoors areas.
“We thought it was about time the National Trust shared just a fraction of our copious amounts of fresh air with the nation,” he said.
The 454 gram jars were sent to people who had made a request online.
South Lakes District Council said air quality in Townend was expected to fall well within the Government’s recommended target of 40 microgrammes of Nitrogen Dioxide per metre cubed. Not everywhere in the Lake District shares this clean reputation and several areas in Kendal struggled to meet national guidelines last year.
Black spots for air quality include Middle Lowther Street and Top Lowther Street, Kendal, where air was almost 10 units above recommended levels. This year’s statistics revealed Crescent Road, Windermere, was also close to the Government’s recommended levels.
SLDC set up an Air Quality Management Area to reduce pollution in problem areas in Kendal and the group is expected to widen its focus this year.
Professor Neil Cape, from the Natural Environment Research Council, said even the quality of the Townend supply would depend on exactly where it was collected.
“Even in the Lake District the quality can be poor right by the roadside,” he said.
“Collectors need to make sure they stay well away from roads when they fill up their jars.”
This weekend (March 20/21), the National Trust is opening its parks for free to give everyone the opportunity to visit the great outdoors.
An online voucher for National Trust venues can be found at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/freeair.
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