PLANS: Broughton-in-Furness. Picture: Karl and Ali The shape of a well-loved forest near Broughton looks set to change after plans to cut some of the trees were passed at the third time of asking. The ancient woodland at Knott Wood on Back Lane can now undergo management to cut the tops off and allow smaller trees to grow beneath the current canopy. The woodland, owned by Michael Danbury, of Formby in Liverpool, failed twice to get permission to thin the treetops despite having a license to do so from the Forestry Commission. The Lake District National Park Authority had previously stepped in to stop what it called ‘permanent damage to the forest floor’ when the owner asked to put in a new hard road surface and a permanent gate, with an application being rejected.
Tourism Minister Nigel Huddleston MP was in Cumbria this week to meet with business and discuss the wider reopening of the visitor economy. Organised by Cumbria Tourism, the trip showcased a wide-ranging Cumbrian experience, both inside and outside the Lake District National Park, and the variety and quality of food.
PEOPLE are being invited to head to Brockhole visitor centre for a taste of the future. Visitors will be able to have their say on using driverless, electric travel to get around the National Park. Of the 19 million visitors that come to the Lake District each year, 89 per cent travel by car – creating around a third of the National Park’s total carbon emissions. And now state-of-the-art, self-driving vehicles are being considered as a sustainable transport alternative by the Lake District National Park Authority – to reduce congestion and pollution. Emma Moody, the Authority’s Lead Adviser for Sustainable Transport says in future the pods could offer eco-friendly on-demand car sharing and could provide an option for visitors’ ‘last mile’.
However, it has also reminded the public that the risk of fire remains high. It comes after a fire broke out in Whinlatter Forest near Keswick on Friday. Around 50 fire fighters were involved in tackling the blaze, which was finally put out on Monday. A spokesman for Forestry England said: We’d like to say a huge thank you to Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service for their swift response this weekend in dealing with a fire at Whinlatter Forest. Around 50 fire officers from across Cumbria responded to the incident, as well as our own Forestry England team and a helicopter we contracted in to help.
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