A consultation is taking place from 3 to 31 July 2020 to consider a proposal to include a clause within the new lease of Glenridding Common to the John Muir Trust. We recognise there are a range of people and organisations that have an interest in the future of this part of the Lake District. We will continue our discussions with the commoners who graze the land, the parish council and representatives from the farming community, as part of the consultation to ensure they are updated at every stage.
Feedback from this consultation will inform Members’ consideration of next steps.
On this page you will find answers to some of the questions currently being asked about the proposal.
As a National Park Authority we have a duty to ensure we fully explore all options for managing the land we own, which amounts to just under four per cent of the Lake District. We must also ensure livelihoods are protected and the land is safeguarded for the future. However, as a public body with limited resources, we recognise there may be alternative organisations that could continue to improve and enhance the special qualities of the land.
In September 2014 we invited a wide range of organisations, landowners and other stakeholders to a meeting where we shared our plans to review all our property holdings in the National Park. Following this, we welcomed approaches from organisations, including the John Muir Trust, who wished to discuss specific properties.
This led to the John Muir Trust taking a three-year lease to manage Glenridding Common from June 2017 to 2020, following a three-month consultation with commoners, the community, parish council and farming groups .
As the lease is now due for renewal, we are reviewing the future management options for the common.
Through our discussions with the John Muir Trust and our relationship with them as landlord and tenant, we are confident that they could continue to care for and improve the environmental quality of Glenridding Common, and should they be given an option to purchase the land as part of their new lease. They also recognise that cultural heritage of the common, including farming practices, is unique and a key part of the Lake District’s status as a World Heritage Site.
The concentration of common land and unique farming heritage are key special qualities of the Lake District. As a registered common, neighbouring farmers have a right to graze the land. These rights are protected by law and therefore the two commoners who currently graze would continue to do so.
Glenridding Common benefits from the highest environmental designations as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in addition to being within a national park. These protections would remain in place and a change of management or ownership would not affect the status of the common.
Upland sheep farming is part of the Lake District’s rich cultural farming heritage. The collaborative management of common land by commoners is protected by law as well as being recognised as one of the Outstanding Universal Values of the Lake District’s status as a World Heritage Site. In addition there is a Higher Level Stewardship scheme in place which sets out management requirements for the common.
Our approach, set out in the Lake District National Park Partnership’s plan, is to secure the right balance of land use, in the right place, working with communities, farmers, land owners and managers. For Glenridding Common, this means protecting the culture of hill farming and commons management, whilst improving the environment to deliver additional benefits such as flood risk reduction, access and recreation. Should the John Muir Trust take on the responsibility of the common, we would work with them and other stakeholders to secure this.
Like many public bodies the LDNPA is under considerable financial pressures and has many competing demands for resources. Over recent years we would not have been able to match the financial contribution or dedicated officer time that the John Muir Trust has put in and this is not likely to change over the coming years.
We have a duty to consider whether an alternative organisation could manage and improve Glenridding Common, whilst ensuring livelihoods are protected. Through our relationship with the John Muir Trust over the past three years, it is clear this is also their aspiration.
There are a range of people and organisations who have an interest in the future management of Glenridding Common. Stakeholders have been consulted throughout July and a further extension to this period is now being considered to allow people to understand more about the proposal.
If the existing lease is renewed there will be both a cost and labour saving to the Lake District National Park by not managing the land. Savings would be invested elsewhere within the National Park, including park management resources which would be used to support flood recovery work. In addition should a sale transaction be undertaken there would be further funds available from a capital receipt which would be invested in the Lake District National Park.
Glenridding Common is on the western side of Ullswater in the east of the Lake District National Park. The LDNP has owned and managed Glenridding Common since 1977.
The area in question is in two parts.
The property includes the summit of Helvellyn along with Striding Edge and Swirral Edge, however it does not include the Scheduled Ancient Monument of Greenside Mine which will continue to be managed by the National Park.
Consultation with stakeholders has been ongoing throughout July 2020. We have engaged with the graziers on the common, Parish Council and representatives from the farming community, as well as national organisations.
The findings from the consultation will be taken back to Authority and shared with Members in order to inform their decision.
We invited a wide range of organisations, landowners and other stakeholders to a meeting in September 2014 where we shared our plans to review our property holdings in the National Park. Following this, we welcomed approaches from organisations, including the John Muir Trust, who wished to discuss specific properties.
The existing lease arrangements with the John Muir Trust arose out of these initial discussions.
During the course of the 2020 consultation exercise other parties have now come forward and expressed interest in purchasing Glenridding Common. These approaches will now be considered in the wider context of the possible sale of Glenridding Common, along with the proposal that is being put forward as part of the new lease to the John Muir Trust.
The John Muir Trust is a registered charity, based in Scotland with UK-wide membership and activities. It owns and manages major upland properties in Scotland, including Ben Nevis and parts of the Cuillin ranges on Skye. The Lake District National Park has successfully supported and run the John Muir Award, an environmental engagement initiative, for the past nine years, increasing awareness about wild places and the importance to conserve them.
Find out about the John Muir Trust
The John Muir Trust recognises the unique cultural heritage of Glenridding Common and has indicated a long-term aspiration for caring for the land.
John Muir Trust has outlined priorities as:
Find out about the John Muir Trust
A land management plan in currently in place as part of the existing lease, this is reviewed with the LDNPA on a regular basis. If the option to purchase the land is included in a new lease, then the management of this land will fall to the John Muir Trust.
We understand the John Muir Trust recognises rewilding to incorporate a wide spectrum of approaches and is often misinterpreted and taken to mean the reintroduction of large carnivores, which would not be appropriate here. They do however believe there may be some opportunities to build on existing initiatives to include limited woodland replanting but would want to take full input on this from interested parties before doing so and would be aiming to do it by agreement. Their management plan for the site will expand on these ideas.
Further information on John Muir Trust’s land management.
Please send an email to glenriddingconsultation@lakedistrict.gov.uk
