New ABC green guide for Cumbria

2:39pm Monday 12th May 2008

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People visiting Cumbria and the Lake District can now find tips on how to make the most of their stay and look after the environment at the same time in a brand new guide.

The ABC Green Guide to Cumbria and the Lake District has been produced by The Tourism and Conservation Partnership, supported by Cumbria Tourism, Invest in Cumbria, and Friends of the Lake District.

The free pocket-sized booklet contains simple, practical advice on ways to reduce environmental impact while on holiday or even just at home, along with helpful information on Cumbria's conservation schemes, local produce and rare wildlife.

It lists a comprehensive directory of the Cumbrian businesses playing their part in helping the environment. 81 per cent of Cumbria's tourism businesses are taking active steps to become more energy efficient, over 60 per cent support local conservation schemes and 52 per cent encourage their visitors to do the same. By using the guide and supporting these businesses, visitors will be directly contributing towards the enhancement and preservation of the landscape in Cumbria.

In addition to all this, the guide also contains a competition to win a 2-night stay in one of the five luxurious English Lakes Hotels, so visitors could make a real difference to both their holiday accommodation as well as the environment!

Claire Chapman, Partnership Manager for the Tourism and Conservation Partnership, which promotes and encourages environmentally aware tourism in Cumbria, said: "Cumbria's beautiful landscape is the main draw for millions of visitors each year and the ABC Guide is a great way for people to explore the county in a way that doesn't cost the earth.

"There are lots of ideas on things to do and places to go - from visiting the local farms to spotting birds of prey and by supporting businesses that care about the environment we are all working to ensure a safe future for Cumbria."

Ian Stephens, Chief Executive for Cumbria Tourism said: "Cumbria, the Lake District, is renowned all over the world for its spectacular scenery and to continue attracting visitors to our region it is imperative that we conserve and nurture our unique landscape.

"The ABC Green Guide offers clear advice on how to make a positive difference to the environment both on holiday and at home. Its free and readily available to all so we encourage everyone to make use of it and support the county's ongoing work toward sustainable tourism."

Judith Moore, Policy Officer from Friends of the Lake District (FLD), who work to conserve the landscapes of Cumbria, said: "We are really pleased to continue with our support for the guide to promote sustainable tourism. Visitors, businesses and organisations such as those who have produced the guide need to work together to ensure that we all do our bit to look after the precious asset of our environment."

The ABC Green Guide is available in Cumbrian Tourist Information Centres and can be downloaded from both the Cumbria Tourism and Tourism and Conservation Partnership website's www.ourstolookafter.co.uk. To enter the competition, visit www.golakes.co.uk/abcgreenguide.