[F]riends of the Lake District has launched a Manifesto calling on all political parties to unite in developing better environmental policies so that we can have healthier landscapes for all, prosperous rural communities and increased funding for the countryside in Cumbria.
In an election campaign that will be headlined by other issues, Friends of the Lake District makes the case for all parties to prioritise the protection of our natural environment and to recognise the fact that we cannot live without the services it provides such as food and forestry, flood alleviation and clean air and water. Brexit will dominate the debate, but our politicians must appreciate how this threatens the very future of the uplands as we now know them.
To achieve this aim, Friends of the Lake District is calling on parties to develop better policies that can deliver the three main goals outlined in its Manifesto.
1. Better Landscapes for all. Protecting and enriching the landscapes of Cumbria is vital to our future and that of future generations. But the countryside has never been more vulnerable to outside forces such as climate change, flooding, insensitive agricultural policy and poorly planned infrastructure development.
2. Prosperous rural communities. Cumbria’s economy depends on Cumbria’s environment. We need a ‘cultural revolution’ that recognises the role of land managers and pays them for the provision of the natural capital that their work delivers. But we also need other rural enterprises, fitting together to maintain balanced and prosperous landscapes and communities.
3. Better funding for the countryside. We have a collective duty to care for the landscape of Cumbria. Scenery, wildlife, our built heritage and our history need safeguarding and care. This demands action by Government to secure a confident future for the rural economy by bringing forward the 25 Year Environmental and Agriculture Plans.
Sir Martin Holdgate CB, Friends of the Lake District President said: “Our Cumbrian landscapes are a priceless natural and cultural heritage which enrich us all. But they need continuing care. As President of Friends of the Lake District, I commend the actions in this Manifesto to all who seek to serve in the next Parliament.”
The Manifesto is available to view or download on the Friends of the Lake District website: www.friendsofthelakedistrict.org.uk/news/a-manifesto-for-the-landscape-of-cumbria-2017
