Future of Striding Edge and Helvellyn: Our response to the Lake District Consultation

We were pleased to be contacted by the Lake District National Park Authority with regard to the terms on which they should grant a new lease to the John Muir Trust for Glenridding Common. Including Striding Edge and the summit of Helvellyn and overlooking Ullswater this is one of he most iconic places in the Lake District

The proposal is to for the LDNPA to include in the new lease the option for the John Muir Trust to buy Glenridding Common without it going on the open market.

The Foundation for Common Land has objected to this proposal because we believe the interests of this area are best protected by it remaining in public ownership of the Lake District National Park Authority.

The charitable purpose of the John Muir Trust is “to conserve and protect wild places and other elements of nature for the benefit of the public.”. There is no commitment to the farmed or managed landscape which this Common is. We therefore consider that the sale of Glenridding Common could risk the future of the Outstanding Universal Value of the World Heritage Site as there would not be a commitment to secure and support pastoral grazing systems on this Common alongside this designated SSSI..

We are not against the granting of a new lease to the John Muir Trust only to the inclusion of a clause allowing the option to buy the Common. As society seeks to balance the multiple benefits we look for from our countryside our view is that Helvellyn is best owned by an organisation committed to securing the full suite of characteristics of this internationally recognised site.

Our full response can be read here.