A South Lakeland choir has just returned from Slovenia where they launched the twinning of the Lake District and Triglav national parks.

Lakeland Voices and the Triglav national park choir Triglavske roz'ce have met and performed in concerts before, and Lakeland Voices choir leader, David Burbidge, who was behind the twinning, said:

"Most twinning operations involve the twinning first, and then the connecting of the people who live there, but we found that there are already so many connections between the Lake District and Triglav national parks that all that was needed was an official stamp on what is already a successful cooperation."

On this occasion, the choirs sang together in the Triglav village of Stara Fuzina, and were joined by officials from the Triglav National Park office who said they were delighted by the twinning.

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Samo Gardner, from the Triglav National Park office said: "We very much welcome this initiative.

"We have always been delighted when Lakeland Voices visits our area, and are very pleased that next year the Triglavske roz'ce choir will visit the Lake District."

The Westmorland Gazette: TWINS: The choirs singing together in SedberghTWINS: The choirs singing together in Sedbergh

The choirs have sung on the tops of the highest mountains in both national parks, mountain leader training courses in the Lake District have their assessments on Triglav, and both national parks share concerns with the relationship between farming and tourism, environmental protection, and parking. 

Mr Burbidge explained why Lakeland Voices travelled by train:

"Our singers felt they no longer wanted to contribute to climate change through the environmental impact of flying, but it turned out to be the most pleasant form of transport as well - especially after hearing reports of holiday chaos in UK airports. 

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"Security and passport control in London and Brussels took only ten minutes, and the trains were a delight travelling through some of the most beautiful scenery in Europe."

Lakeland Voices is famous throughout the UK and beyond for singing on the tops of mountains and on walks throughout the Lake District, Scotland and Slovenia.

At their concert in Zrece, Lakeland Voices were joined by the British Ambassador to Slovenia, Her Excellency Tiffany Sadler, who sang with the choir and gave an encouraging address.