3.1.3.4 Glacial Landscapes in the UK - Lake District Cast Study

Question 1

Location of Lake District:

Answer 1

NW England

Question 2

When did the Lake District become a National Park?

Answer 2

1951

Question 3

What created the Lake District’s landscape?

Answer 3

• mountains carved by giant glaciers during Ice Age creating jagged peaks and wide valleys
• some people think it’s England’s best scenery

Question 4

Conflicts with quarrying:

Answer 4

• pollution of land and rivers therefore destroys habitats
• spoils the landscapes so less tourists will visit
• noise pollution created by both process and transport

Question 5

Conflicts with tourism:

Answer 5

• too many tourists can drop litter and erode footpaths as they don’t stay on footpaths so scare sheep, trample on crops, leave gates open
• conflict exists with farmers as land is developed for tourism such as gifts and coffee shops instead of being used for farming
• increase in house prices as people have ‘holiday homes’ which makes properties too expensive for locals

Question 6

Conflicts with farming:

Answer 6

• grazing sheep remove vegetation from area
• causes conflicts as conservationists would like environment to be more natural
• conflict exists with tourists over access to farm sites

Question 7

Conflicts with forestry:

Answer 7

• harvesting trees means the chopping down of forests which can destroy habitats
• conflict can also occur with conservationists as coniferous forests don’t support as many species as woodland areas

Question 8

Conflicts with military training:

Answer 8

• UK’s mountainous terrain provides an excellent training ground for RAF pilots
• some walkers object to how jet engine noise spoils the tranquility of upland areas

Question 9

Conflict of wind turbines in the Lake District:

Answer 9

• impact on local economy with fewer tourists staying in hotels and visiting cafes and pubs
• some people think it may spoil the natural landscape
• house prices may fall if views are spoilt by wind turbines

Question 10

What is Kirkstone Pass?

Answer 10

one of Lake Districts most remote and beautiful valleys

Question 11

When were wind turbines put up at Kirkstone Pass and how much did it cost?

Answer 11

• National Park Authority granted permission for 3 16m wind turbines in 2011
• project completed in April 2012 cost of £150,000

Question 12

Opportunities from putting up wind turbines at Kirkstone Pass, Lake District:

Answer 12

• building of wind turbines → provides employment → increase in disposable income → multiplier effect → more revenue
• provides power to Kirkstone Pass Inn → which had relied on diesel generators for heat and light
  
  • source of renewable energy
• local groups e.g. ‘Friends of the Lake District’ supported the scheme
  
  • ‘green power’ good for the environment
  • secured future of pub and jobs of its employees

Question 13

Challenges from putting up wind turbines at Kirkstone Pass, Lake District:

Answer 13

• fewer people stay at the valley because of noise pollution
• National Park - windturbines disrupt natural environment
• short-term jobs involved in construction of wind turbines had to be considered after its construction ended

Question 14

Who put forward the idea for a zip-wire in Glenridding, Lake District and when?

Answer 14

2014 - Windmere Based Co. - ‘Treetop Trek’ put forward proposal to construct 4 parallel 1 mile long zip-wires above Glenridding in Patterdale

Question 15

Where would the zip-wire run from in Glenridding?

Answer 15

• zip-wire would run from disused mine on land owned by Lake District National Park Authority and end in a field in Glenridding

Question 16

Conflict with Tree-top Trek in putting up the zip-wire:

Answer 16

• need to balance the need to conserve whilst securing vibrant communities and enhancing local economy
• improve activities available for visitors

Question 17

Conflict with Policy Officer, ‘Friends of the Lake District’ in Tree-top Trek putting up the zip-wire:

Answer 17

• strong local opposition
• pleased Tree-Top trek has listened to strong local opposition and is not putting up the zip wire

Question 18

Conflict with Steamboat Captain (leader of opposing side to zip-wire) about Tree-top Trek putting up the zip-wire:

Answer 18

• conflict between preserving natural beauty and heritage of site and becoming more commercial
• local opposition → likely to drive away many visitors who come to enjoy the peace and tranquility
• already have range of outdoor facilities

Question 19

Physical reasons people may want to visit the Lake District:

Answer 19

• Lakes e.g. Windmere and Ullswater offer water sports, cruises and fishing
• Adventure activities - abseiling, gorge walking and rock climbing
• Mountain landscapes with peaks like Helvellyn and Scaffel = popular with tourists and bikers

Question 20

Historical and cultural reasons people may want to visit the Lake District:

Answer 20

• Home of Beatrix Potter (author of Peter Rabbit) - National Trust Site
• Landscape inspired writers and poets e.g. William Wordsworth
• Scenic towns and villages - Ambleside and Grasmere = popular with tourists

Question 21

Advantages of tourism in the Lake District:

Answer 21

• bridge North-South divide
• good for local economy - increased revenue (multiplier effect)
• jobs created
• businesses thrive - more money spent on businesses

Question 22

Disadvantages of tourism in the Lake District:

Answer 22

• path erosion
• traffic congestion - increased pollution
• litter

Question 23

Each year how many people visit the lake district and how many people live there?

Answer 23

• Each year, 15.8 million tourists visit the Lake District
• There are only 40,000 people living there

Question 24

What % of visitors arrive by car to the Lake District and what does this cause?

Answer 24

• Over 89% visitors arrive by car
• Roads are narrow and winding and congestion is a major issue

Question 25

What does tourism provide to locals of the Lake District and what are the drawbacks of this?

Answer 25

• Provides jobs for local people BUT these jobs are mostly seasonal, poorly paid and unreliable
• Young people can be attracted to move away to urban areas for better job prospects causing rural depopulation

Question 26

What sort of families choose to stay in the Lake District and what does this help to maintain?

Answer 26

• However, young families choose to stay in the area, which maintains other essential services such as schools and hospitals

Question 27

How do tourists create conflict in the Lake District?

Answer 27

Gates in fields are often left open causing conflicts between farmers and locals

Question 28

What environmental impacts do water sports cause in the Lake District?

Answer 28

Water sports cause erosion of lake shores and there can be conflicts of interests between different lake users

Question 29

What are the main environmental impacts of tourism in the Lake District?

Answer 29

• Large numbers of hikers cause footpath erosion, which is expensive to repair e.g. in Keswick the Catbells main footpath has led to severe erosion
• The main tourist (‘honeypot’) sites and footpaths show signs of overcrowding – footpath erosion, litter, damage to grass verges by cars
• Pollution (oil, fumes) from vehicles and boats can damage ecosystems eg in Lake Windermere
• Walkers can damage farmland by trampling crops or leaving litter; dogs can disturb sheep and cattle

Question 30

How much money did tourists spend in 2022 in the Lake District and what does this support?

Answer 30

• In 2022, tourists spent £1.48 million in the Lake District
• This supports hotels, shops and restaurants

Question 31

How many locals work in shops, hotels and other tourist services?

Answer 31

Over 16,000 locals work in shops, hotels and other tourist services

Question 32

What new businesses in the Lake District can provide jobs for people?

Answer 32

New businesses like adventure tourism (Go Ape etc.) provide jobs for local people

Question 33

What can slow down business communication and deliveries in the Lake District?

Answer 33

Traffic congestion can slow down business communications and delay deliveries etc.

Question 34

What are the house prices like in the Lake District and what % of property is used for holiday homes or holiday rentals?

Answer 34

• House process are high (average house price over £350k in Grasmere) – 20% property is second homes or holiday rentals
• This prices local people out of the housing market and can encourage them to move away

Question 35

What is foot path erosion?

Answer 35

Footpath erosion is a serious threat to the mountain environment and consequently to the tourist industry

Question 36

How does footpath erosion happen?

Answer 36

Walking is the most popular activity for visitors to the Lake District and fifteen million pairs of feet are very damaging to the footpaths particularly on the high fells

Question 37

How has footpath erosion been managed in the Lake District?

Answer 37

• The ‘Upland path landscape restoration project’ has successfully repaired paths using local materials, and has helped to re-plant native plants
• ‘Fix the Fells’ maintain and repair mountain paths – they are supported by the National Trust. Local stones and sheep fleece are used to created stable, well-drained surfaces for footpaths

Question 38

How is traffic congestion being managed in the Lake District by Go Lakes Travel and how much does the initiative cost?

Answer 38

• The Go Lakes Travel programme is a £6.9 million initiative, funded by the Department of Transport, and being delivered in partnership by Cumbria County Council, the Lake District National Park Authority and Cumbria Tourism
• Between 2011 and 2015 it aimed to generate a step-change in how visitors travel to and around the Central and Southern Lake District, enabling them to make greater use of sustainable modes of travel

Question 39

What are the key objectives of Go Lakes Travel for reducing traffic congestion in the Lake District?

Answer 39

• Improving public transport services and traffic management to tackle congestion and reduce delays
• Creating a network of pay-as-you-go car and cycle hire fleets
• Developing safe, continuous networks for walking, cycling and wheelchair use
• Making paying for, and changing between different modes of travel easier, through integrated ticketing and discounts for those arriving by public transport
• Targeted marketing and information designed to change visitors’ travel behaviour to/from and around the Lakes
• Ensure that, as far as possible, local residents and communities benefit from the programme

Question 40

How is traffic congestion being managed in the Lake District?

Answer 40

• Transport hubs (e.g. Ambleside) help to create an interchange between parking, buses, ferries, cycling and walking - this helps to ease congestion elsewhere
  
  • encourages use of public transport and so reduces number of cars used - reduces CO2 emissions and effect on environment
• Park-and-Ride schemes such as the ‘Honister Rambler’ have been expanded for tourists
• Several dual-carriageways have been built in order to improve access
• Traffic calming measures, such as speed bumps, have been introduced in villages