AMBLESIDE Together, organisers of Festival of the Fells, is inviting every business in Ambleside to take part in this year’s festival from Thursday, September 21, to Sunday, September 24.

The first Festival of the Fells last September was a great success and generated around £250,000 extra income in the town, according to an independent survey.

This year’s festival hopes to repeat last year’s successes with a variety of outdoor events, including guided walks for all abilities and guided swims, as well as talks by celebrities of the outdoor world, classic outdoor action films and live music.

The festival’s new headline sponsor will be Heart of the Lakes. The company, which has been based in Ambleside since it was set up over 40 years ago, is one of the area’s leading holiday cottage companies, with 150 properties in the Ambleside area.

The organising group, Ambleside Together, was originally set up to boost local business in the aftermath of Storm Desmond. They plan to contact every Ambleside business, large and small, either in person or by email to offer them the chance to be involved. Last time, festival events were staged at major venues such as Zeffirellis cinema and the parish centre, as well as small cafes including the Copper Pot and Mr H’s Tearoom.

However, secretary Paul McDougall said they wanted to increase local business involvement: “Shops or cafes might want to host a talk by a writer, climber or walker, to which members of the public could come along free of charge. Others might have a venue - perhaps a room above a cafe or restaurant - where they could charge an entry fee, perhaps for a short film, a recital, a music concert or an exhibition.

“It’s a chance to be part of this great celebration of all that’s great about life in and around Ambleside, and everyone can benefit.” he said.

Participating businesses and organisations last year reported great enthusiasm for the events they put on, which visitors had loved. Anyone with ideas for the festival or who would like more information can email loveambleside@ gmail.com or visit www.festivalofthefells.uk.