The Lakes to Dales Project

Now as I'm sure regulars to this blog will have picked up on the fact that I am a great fan of both the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks. I have also made numerous walks in places that are on the fringes of, but outside the boundaries of both parks, for example the pictures below were taking from a walk in the gorgeous Smardale valley.

Including these areas in the National Parks would in my opinion bring tourist investment into the area, and would be a boost to conservation of these places. Some might argue that the decision about what happens to these regions should lie solely in the hands of those that live and work there and I agree theirs should be the most important voice. However I think that lovers of the outdoors are also entitled to voice their support for schemes such as the proposed National Park extension.

Proposals to extend the existing boundaries of the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks have been sent to The Secretary of State for the Environment.The proposals entail extending the Yorkshire Dales to include the northern Howgills, the Orton fells, Mallerstang and Wild Boar Fell and the Lake District to include the Whinfell ridge and the Borrowdale valley. 
Public consultation will be running until the 16th March 2012, so you still have a while to register your opinion. If you wish to show your support then you can follow this link and fill out the short form.