INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION

The landscape of the Lake District is unquestionably beautiful, the overwhelming diversity of landscape in a compact area and the constant sense of changing topography, water and light, are all qualities that distinguish it from other parts of upland Britain.  500 million years of geological processes have produced spectacular scenery including England’s highest mountain and deepest lakes. The Lake District has an exceptionally rich mosaic and diversity of habitats. These include mountain tops, broad leaved woodlands, peatlands, limestone pavement, lakes and tarns, estuaries and coast, all of which support a wide range of plants and animals and contribute to the character of the landscape.

However, the majority of the landscape is a result of human intervention over 14,000 years. Prehistoric, Roman and medieval archaeology and a rich historic landscape remain visible contributing to the area’s outstanding universal value. In particular the system of fell farming is of great antiquity and has been a major force in shaping the Lake District landscape.