BMW UK and National Parks UK have announced a partnership that will help to make the 15 National Parks even more accessible for electric cars - beginning with the Lake District. 

The partnership, called Recharge in Nature, will see new charging points installed in visitor sites to help cater to the ever-growing electric vehicle market. 

The three-year partnership will also look to support nature restoration, biodiversity, sustainability and well-being projects across the parks.

The Lake District National Park is the first location, where the installation of recharging posts has already started. It was chosen because it is the most visited of all the National Parks and because the enhanced recharging network has the potential to support local communities as well as to increase travel choices for tourists.

Over the next three years, BMW UK will also work with National Parks UK to support locally delivered initiatives, focussed on enabling more sustainable tourism, nature restoration, biodiversity and wellbeing through the Recharge In Nature Fund.

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These supported projects will enable the National Parks to promote more sustainable UK tourism, enhance wellbeing and to restore nature and biodiversity, helping the National Parks to progress faster and with greater impact in these priority areas.

Richard Leafe, CEO, Lake District National Park, said: "In the Lake District, we are aiming to be a net zero National Park by 2037 and one of the best ways to achieve this is by reducing carbon emissions from visitor travel. Our partnership with BMW is a significant step towards this, giving visitors and communities a wider choice of sustainable travel options, meaning we can all play a part in continuing to protect and enhance this special place.”

Chris Brownridge, CEO, BMW UK, said: "Sustainability is at the heart of our business and enhancing the EV recharging network in the UK’s National Parks will help to make these favourite destinations more accessible for the increasing numbers of drivers who choose an electric car, as well as to support local communities in their shift to the new technology.

"With biodiversity and the health of UK nature more important than ever before, we are also pleased to support a range of local projects within the Parks to help preserve these precious landscapes for the future.”

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