So, how do you make the Lake District 'change and diversify' because it is too heavily weighted toward 'white middle-class able-bodied people'?

[Nanny0gg]

Richard Leafe, the Cumbria park's chief executive, said the Unesco World Heritage site must change to merit continued public funding.

I mean, it's mountains and lakes. What can you do?

And isn't that a tad patronising as well?

The point is that some of the barriers have been removed if she were to want to go. The infrastructure has been adapted and people would have addressed some of the issues.

Sure that's a good thing and it is happening already but ultimately people will decide for themselves how they spend their time and whether a place appeals to them - even if it does receive some public funding. The LDNPA receives public funding largely to make planning decisions - the same as local councils do.

Transport links need to be better, and then it’s really down to the parents. It’s not the responsibility of others to make sure kids have access to countryside/walks etc. Once there it’s cheap - no pleasure beaches and arcades to pay out for; just lots of fresh air and a pair of walking boots.

It’s a bit like when they say that Radio 4 must become more accessible to a more diverse audience. It’s either your cup of tea or it isn’t. Nobody’s stopping anyone listening or visiting. It’s there. Use it or don’t.

I don’t know how you persuade whole swathes of people that they’re going to enjoy something when their cultural programming, so to speak, tells them that they’re probably unlikely to.

There have been real efforts to encourage more people from ethnic minorities to visit the Peak District. We walk there a lot and I would say it is nowhere near as unusual as it once was to see people from an Asian background out walking.

I suppose there are some obvious differences from the Lake District:

• The Peak District is surrounded by areas which are more ethnically diverse, it is easily accessible from Manchester and Sheffield.
• I think public transport is probably better and cheaper in the Peak District.
• It is also an area with a strong tradition of working class enjoyment of the countryside,

@lakeswimmer -exactly what happened to Campsite 1. Their tent field flood plain was empty. There were 3 of us there in July.

Design the campsite better, repeat business. They went out of business because of no repeat business.

In a camping area to pay no heed to campers and concentrate on statics and caravans at the expense of campers is bad business sense. A simple rejigging, putting the tents near the facilities and taking those who do not need the facilities further away from the front gate (heck sell it as the secluded and peaceful riverside location) and there you go - repeat business. As it was we, and the other campers left as soon as we had used our prepaid time, vowed never to go back, campsite out of business

It comes down to deciding what the purpose of the countryside is. If it’s simply to exist then there should be no concessions to visitors. In fact all visitors should be banned as they harm the environment.

I think it’s fair to say that this isn’t what we believe. We believe that access to the countryside is a right, and that it’s good for us in terms of physical and mental health. So why should it not be accessible to more types people? And other people encouraged to visit? People on low incomes, disabled people and ethnic minorities, the majority of whom live in urban areas and may have no cultural history of visiting rural locations.

The comparison to museums is interesting as they do indeed have a remit to encourage a broader range of visitors. I think most people would find it unacceptable if a museum or art gallery was totally inaccessible to a wheelchair user.

People go to the things they like. We get endless hand wringing about how the fringe festival excludes working class people when in fact loads of it is free. Meanwhile the panto attracts loads of working class families at fifty odd quid a ticket.

You like something or you don't.

@lakeswinner Ah, see that's another point. I've been to London once and I don't like it. I have Manchester on my doorstep and that's all the city I want and need.

Yes, I'm also put off London by the extortionate train fares, the high cost of everything, the sights don't interest me (and a lot more) etc, but even if all of those things were sorted out, I still have no interest in London in itself. I don't want it, I don't need it.

I'm sure more people would go to London if those things were sorted, and that is a good thing! I'm not against it, but I think there are also plenty of people who feel "You couldn't pay me to go to Y, there's nothing there for me. Give me X anyday of the week." and you'd be fighting a losing battle trying to attract them to Y.

Different places attract different kinds of people. On the other hand I'm sure there are issues that people from BAME backgrounds have faced in the Lake District, and we need to do everything we can to sort that out. We cannot have the vile Little Englander mentality contaminating these places. It's rife in rural England. Let's work out a way to make people who want to visit these places but don't feel safe/welcome feel better about going by addressing the problems they face. That's okay and should be encouraged.

What I don't agree with, is bending over backwards making changes to these places in an attempt to attract people (of all backgrounds) who simply aren't interested in going just so we can feel good about ourselves.

There is a difference.

Maybe the local chamber of commerce could provide free training to small businesses on customer service and ensuring repeat business.

Neither campsite we went to would have got repeat business from us and others.

I think a number of campsite/cafe/guest house owners in the Lake District have retired to set up “their dream”.

Train them into how to appeal to families/ diverse groups/families with a disability.

Put the trained businesses in a directory/ on line 1 stop booking shop

Guess what to all you white, middle class mumsnetters? I come from an Asian culture and I really enjoy hiking up mountains and had a fab time on holiday in the Peak District. Shocker. According to the ignorant folk on here my culture wouldn't like that type of holiday

This thread proves what the real problem is: people who are privaledged enough to not face any descrimination are the ones making the decisions. Educate yourself before moaning about "box ticking" because this thread has shown how ignorant and offensive the UK still is when we are almost in 2020.

And other people encouraged to visit? People on low incomes, disabled people and ethnic minorities, the majority of whom live in urban areas and may have no cultural history of visiting rural locations.

I do kind of wonder how this would be achieved without being totally patronising...

'Look at this wonderful, magical place, where you can get away from your smelly old slums and get some actual fresh air. Try it... You might find you actually like it'.

I don't think the lake district in and off itself is particularly expensive. However, the issue is that a fair amount of the time it will be wet and or cold. We visit a lot and have had some glorious weather, it definitely doesn't rain every day and we also don't mind being out in the weather and have the appropriate clothing etc.. If your camp site/accommodation doesn't have a lot of facilities/swimming pool etc then you are either travelling to find things to do and/or it costs money to fill your day.

If you don't have the clothing and are used to having plenty of activities available nearby, then you wont necessarily think a holiday in a rural area is the best value.

Can i also just give a wee shout out to people who do like the lakes to give the turkish restaurant in Cockermouth a try? That's supporting ethnic diversity and having a delicious meal at the same time. I have no connection with it, just had a couple of lovely meals there.

So why should it not be accessible to more types people? And other people encouraged to visit? People on low incomes, disabled people and ethnic minorities, the majority of whom live in urban areas and may have no cultural history of visiting rural locations.

It is accessible if you can get in a car or buy a train ticket. Some people can't do that (or don't want to) but does that become someone else's responsibility? There are lots of places I'd like to go to but can't because of lack of money/opportunity.

As has been said on this thread already - most purpose built tourist attractions in the Lakes are wheelchair accessible as they are anywhere and there have been efforts made to publicise wheelchair friendly paths.

The Lake District is expensive. The bus fares are eye watering!

The people who run the national parks want more diversity so they can get more funding.

The extra funding would be better put into urban green spaces.

Im of south asian heritage and I experienced racism at the lakes when i was 18 (now 33). Ive taken my children since and the place is a little different. There are still some areas i would visit with caution but i would never book a hotel or cabin here because of my experience.

Put all the money in a decent online booking system.

“We have a family member with reduced mobility/wheelchair “ - show me accommodation. Show me activities.

“ We have children with autism” - show me activities

“We have children on a rainy day” - show me activities

Make it clever enough to say “you can’t go swimming on xxxlake and then paddle boarding near yyy fell as the travel time between them is 95 minutes.

@GreytExpectatons Glad you had a fab time in the Peaks. Hope you are a regular visitor. See my post at 21:31:24, I think our area is ahead of the Lake District at encouraging people in to the hills.

There IS a difference between

"I love the Lakes and have been there before but do not want to go again as I was racially abused/felt uncomfortable/discriminated against."

And "I haven't been to the Lakes and have no interest in going. It's not my thing."

We need to be addressing the first one, the second one is insignificant.

I've said my piece.

I visit the Lakes a lot and have done for decades. I enjoy hill walking and for most of the time I’m able bodied, though a bad injury last year has temporarily slowed me down.

Lots of stuff can be done to make it more accessible for less able bodied people. Not the whole of the Lake District, I’m not talking escalators to the tops. But take the old Keswick to Threkeld railway footpath which is to be reopened Following the flood damage. The authorities want to make it a wheelchair accessible surface and some people are in uproar? Why not let some such paths be wheelchair friendly?

As for the non wheelchair friendly paths there’s an amazing charity in the Lakes which does off road wheelchairs and get get them to some pretty amazing places. I’ve helped out once and pushed a lady round most of Derwent water. Maybe putting funding in place to help organisations purchase more of these wheelchairs (they are used by people for the day and given back) and to train more people to volunteer to do the pushing.

Yes to better public transport.

Maybe free guided organised walks to get people into hill walking who have no experience. If you don’t come from a walker family or have had friends who walk how do you get into it? People could be put off by not being able to map read, etc but some help getting started may help encourage people who are less likely to have those skills....so maybe more people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, BME people.?

I think one of my frustrations with the conversation on this thread is the idea that there's some overarching organisation which will make everything lovely for everyone...The Lake District is just a collection of different residents/business/public services which happen to be within the National Park area - same as any National Park or local council area. Some of those businesses will provide great customer service and some won't. Some will be more accessible than others. There has been some public money spent on improving paths for accessibility and I imagine that will continue in the future.

Some residents will welcome visitors wherever they're from and others perhaps won't because a high volume of tourists creates problems with housing and traffic; there's no way to manage an individual's response to visitors.

@5foot5 I haven't been to the Lakes District but based on reading about it online it does seem predominantly white and unfortunately white, middle class people cant seem to comprehend why this would put off BAME people. When you walk into a pub that is all white and you are not and that short period you can feel everyone's eyes on you, it feels shit. Yes, this still happens in various places in the UK.

@lakeswimmer - bur there is a way for all the individual businesses to work together in som cohesive Lake District National Park Authority Booking System.

Look at Just Eat. Local businesses could join and buy in to do activities, bookings, meals, table bookings so that people could book everything and pay for everything and get a daily itinerary online giving notice of travel times

Just Eat do it. Businesses that buy in MAKE MORE MONEY

I'm really awfully glad I'm a Beta.

This thread proves what the real problem is: people who are privaledged enough to not face any descrimination are the ones making the decisions. Educate yourself before moaning about "box ticking" because this thread has shown how ignorant and offensive the UK still is when we are almost in 2020

Greyt work on this thread!