THE Lake District National Park’s Partnership recognises farming is facing a period of unprecedented change.

With this in mind it is seeking to engage with farmers and land managers to inform the development of its Management Plan and get input into a bid to the National Lottery Heritage Fund’s “Heritage Horizons” programme.

Over the next month, farming organisations will be contacting farmers for their views about the future of the Lake District National Park and to understand what support they need to access funding opportunities and to develop projects.

Farmers are invited to attend on-line meetings being held on Thursday, January 7, Monday, January 11 and Thursday, January 14.

All meetings start at 7.30pm with the event on January 11 specifically aimed at those farming common land.

There will also be the opportunity to submit views using an on-line survey and farming organisations will be conducting individual telephone interviews.

All farmers who participate will be entitled to enter a prize draw for a £50 voucher of their choice.

The Lake District National Park’s Farming Officer, Andrea Meanwell, said: “farmers are very concerned about the changes to support payments and what the future holds. It is very important that we gather their views about the future of farming in the Lake District and what help they need to access new funding opportunities.”

To book onto one of the meetings and to complete the survey, go to: https://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/caringfor/lake-district-national-park-partnership/ldnppachievements or call: Andrea Meanwell 07766 367529 or Veronica Waller on 01524 782797.

The Lake District National Park Partnership was set up in 2006 to bring together organisations to collectively manage the Lake District National Park.

See www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/national-park-partnership for information about the development of the Partnership’s Management Plan. There are currently 25 organisations involved in the Partnership which consists of representatives from the public, private, community and voluntary sectors.

Heritage Horizons is a national programme funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The Lake District Foundation, on behalf of the Lake District National Park Partnership, is one of 12 organisations that has been selected to take forward a development proposal that will be submitted in February 2021.