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Here's what an ecologist has to say on the Lake District: "Alexander Lees, a lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University, views the imposing peaks and valleys of the Lake District as "desolate, and devoid of bird life".
He said: "I think it is an environmental crime. We need to look at it as a wounded landscape. It has been changed over millennia by lots of different forces, and we are not letting it bounce back to the exciting wildlife-filled area it could be."
The National Trust stood up to be counted in the recent Thirlmere zip wire 'debate'. Let's hope that the new CEO is proactive in supporting wildlife in the National Park! ... See more

The new director-general of the National Trust says the charity needs to reach out to people in urban areas.

Updated info from U.U.

Due to storm damage around #Thirlmere, some public footpaths and car parks and the west road are still closed. We want you to enjoy your day and go home safe so please stay off the closed footpaths while we carry out repairs. Check out the map of the paths that are open and plan your route. https://bit.ly/2qlXKad ... See more

Please see info re. the road closure. We will continue to share info from the Zip Off page on this matter to keep everyone updated.

Reference Thirlmere western road - update: In response to a message received by Zip Off this morning a member of the Zip Off Community contacted United Utilities. The following is their response:

"Thank you for your email. I have passed the concerns onto Cumbria CC for them to update their map.
The problem of visitors ignoring the road closure at Thirlmere is receiving full focus by the local catchment team, our contractors and through local media with TV and radio interviews. We have contacted the local police to make them aware of the issue so that they can at least intervene if they are in the area and witness unauthorised access. We are doing everything we can to ensure public safety.
We will pull together a flyer with a map of the closed footpaths and some information as to what has happened and why. We will get them printed and over to Keswick Information Centre for handing out within a week...
We will also update our website with this map and send you the link which you can put on your page, the road will stay closed for a considerable amount of time yet so weekly updates won’t change, however we will inform you of any developments as they happen.
Thank you for your offer to help with disseminating this information the more people that are aware, the safer it is for all concerned."
Thank you John Paterson for your suggestion and detective work and thank you to United Utilities for their response.
PLEASE SHARE THIS AND SUBSEQUENT UPDATES ... See more

Many thanks to Ralph for sending in these images. They were taken on the 31st of March this year and are from the eastern side of Thirlmere. The Thirlmere History Society also wandered along the cycle track on the eastern side yesterday. More photos to follow later. Just to note though that there are a lot of trees down on the eastern side too. ... See more

For info

We mentioned a while back that we were aware that a Freedom of Information request, regarding information submitted to the MoD/DIO in advance of the planning application, had been sent by a member of the Zip Off Community. The response has now been received and is here for your perusal.
We would like to sincerely thank the MoD/DIO as we are aware that dealing with FOI requests is an onerous task but, given the level of interest in the Thirlmere zip wire proposal, we felt that they would not mind.
As ever, thank you for sharing, liking, commenting on and following Zip Off. If any of you spot anything that you think we might be interested in then please let us know! ... See more

Some of you may be interested in attending this...

Ashley Cooper has spent the last thirteen years travelling to every continent on the planet to document the causes and impacts of climate change and the rise of renewable energy, the only photographer to have done so. This epic journey around the planet has taken him to over 30 countries, from close to the North Pole to the Antarctic, from 18,000 feet in the Bolivian Andes to sinking coral atoll islands in the South Pacific. His new book “Images From a Warming Planet” contains 500 of the best images from the project and has come out to critical acclaim, Jonathon Porritt called the book “An extraordinary collection of images and a powerful call to action”. Ashley is an award winning photo journalist whose work is used in newspapers, magazines and books all around the world. ... See more

... Hope you don't mind me posting this. Florence Arts Centre needs help. It is not only a unique place to visit in terms of its art exhibitions but it is a wonderful music venue. Ed and Jean (The Cumbrian Duo) played there. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Laqef8ov0TM ... See more

We're Crowdfunding to keep Florence Arts Centre open. We think FAC is worth saving and hope you do too. Please donate if you can.

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/florence-arts-centre

Ref: Storm Emma damage on the western side of Thirlmere.
A few photos from Ian and Ralph - thank you for sending them in and please feel free to add your comments.
Sorry about the brevity of the message. Our internet is having an 'outage' and I am typing this in a coffee shop in Cockermouth. It's busy and I don't like to outstay my welcome!
There will be more updates when the internet is fixed! ... See more

Now that the threat to Thirlmere has receded we can have some fun! Ed and I are thinking of bringing our kayak along. Also, now the weather is improving perhaps a picnic would be an idea. We will see how things are getting on with the western shore and will post up some more ideas a bit closer to the date. ... See more

Please note that Thirlmere History Society will now meet on a monthly basis. Our next meeting will be on the 1st of March. Unless stated otherwise we meet at 12 noon at Armboth car park for the outdoor element of the meeting. We will then go to Threlkeld Coffee shop for the indoor element of the meeting which will begin at 3pm. All welcome. No membership fees. ... See more

'Custodians'. Really? A couple of members of the Thirlmere History Society made a brief visit to the western road this afternoon.
Please note that these photos have not been edited in any way.

United Utilities, Keswick

If anyone wants to donate

A CAMPAIGN is underway to raise funds for specialist oxygen masks to save the lives of animals caught up in fires.

Yorkshire Water leases eleven sections of moorland across the county for grouse shooting.

Breeding birds are being driven to local extinction by grouse moor management practices conducted on Yorkshire Water's watch and wildlife is being killed by trap, snare and gun.

Will you join us on Saturday from 12 noon in Norfolk Gardens, Bradford, to urge Yorkshire Water to pull the plug on grouse shooting?

www.facebook.com/events/403159673873586/ ... See more

I think this sums up how most of us feel

Perspective: Local Community - With 40,000 people living and working here, the Lakes have always been far more than just an ‘attraction’. So why would Friends of the Lake District use the word ‘attraction’ I wonder? ... See more