Partnership Working

I facilitated a series of workshops for Natural England as part of the Bassenthwaite Vital Uplands project. This is a national pilot project that explores the range of benefits that our uplands provide and aims to identify priorities for future management.

This approach is known as ‘ecosystems services’. The concept is that the upland environment provides more than just nature or plants and animals. It is an interacting system that provides a whole range of goods, services and benefits. Some are obvious, like woodlands support wildlife, provide timber, store carbon, slow water run-off, provide recreation and inspiration. Some are less obvious like the recent focus on the important role that bees play in maintaining the balance of life on earth by pollinating flowers and food crops.

The workshops involved partners from the business, environment, tourism, farming and health sectors. A specific workshop was organised to focus on how best to increase the regional economic benefits of this ‘ecosystem services’ approach.

This was an important first stage in involving key partners in a national pilot project to change approaches to managing our uplands.

I have also worked closely with the Bassenthwaite Lake Restoration Programme through a series of workshops and meetings to clarify its terms of reference, revise its business plan, and review and record its achievements (see Business Plans).