Eight Lake District volunteers and their co-ordinator have been named as finalists in a national tourism superstars awards.
The Wild Haweswater team are the only Cumbrians to make the 10-strong shortlist in the Visit England Tourism Superstar Awards.
The volunteers, co-ordinated by Annabel Rushton, all help to run the RSPB’s Badger Hide visitor experience.
They include Caroline Langfield, Phil Swainson, Kathryn Nunn, Phil Sweetland, Lee Schofield, Gillian Hammersley, Graham Inkersole and Mel Haward.
Annabel, RSPB people and partnerships Manager, Wild Haweswater, said: “Our amazing volunteers have helped us take this incredible, close-up experience with the UK’s largest land predator from a one day per week experience to five days from April to October and have taken the income we raise from £4,000 to £15,500 a year, all helping conservation here in Cumbria.”
The RSPB Badger Hide offers visitors a unique chance to view badgers up close in the Lake District National Park.
Annabel added: “The success of this experience is largely thanks to our dedicated team of RSPB Badger Hide Guide Volunteers who welcome guests and share their enthusiasm for both our local wildlife and ongoing landscape restoration efforts here at Wild Haweswater.”
“We’re so excited that our brilliant team of RSPB Badger Hide Guide Volunteers are in the final of the VisitEngland Tourism Superstar Awards 2026.
“Thanks to their enthusiasm and dedication, we’re able to bring an incredible close-up experience of this charismatic mammal to hundreds of visitors each year.”
The winner will be chosen by public vote and the closing date is March 22. People can vote here.
