Aww shucks April
but it was an easy drive and an even easier decision.
I decided that I would come to the rally after becoming involved in the planning battle, through the passion of others on this forum who are far more experienced than I am in what makes the LDNP so special (you know who you are) - I have been holidaying in the Lakes, off and on, since I was 5 (I am now 54), but my knowledge, until the last few years was pretty lamentable. I was chatting with a guy called Andy who is a NP Ranger (and if he's a member here Hi Andy), on the bus from Grasmere, on Saturday. He was telling me that even he had wondered whether the campaign was right, until he had guided a group of mainly foreign walkers on the fells above Thirlmere and explained to them what TTT wanted to do. He told me that their reaction was one of amazement that the LDNPA wold even consider such a development. I think many people have had similar "road to Damascus" moments.
We have very little National Park space in England. We have very few UNESCO World Heritage Sites. What we do have in the Lakes is an area that can offer all sorts of adventures - as was spoken about on Saturday - walking, climbing, mountain biking, canyoning, etc . Riding a zip wire is not an adventure. All risk has been removed, and the rider needs no skill. This is a fairground ride, and one which will scar the physical landscape, create traffic issues and noise pollution. I have seen and heard single wires in the Alps - it's noisy in an already scarred landscape.
I believe that we have a responsibility to protect this environment.