Ahead of this summer’s potential staycation boom, the Lake District National Park Authority has compiled an information pack and is hosting an online session for farmers and land managers on how to create a pop up campsite for this year’s visitors.
A pop up campsite is the temporary use of a field for a small number of tents, for a maximum of 56 days, to give visitors to the Lake District the chance to enjoy a night under the stars.
No special licence is required and as long as no alterations are being made to the property planning permission isn’t needed.
However, there is a need to carry out a full risk assessment in advance, get suitable insurance, provide toilet and water facilities and arrange litter collection to keep guests and nearby residents safe.
The National Park’s Farming Officer, Andrea Meanwell ran a campsite on her own family farm last year and will be sharing, first-hand, her experience and is giving practical hints and tips to others on how they can offer accommodation for visitors this summer.
Andrea Meanwell said: “Last year we saw an unprecedented number of visitors to the Lake District National Park, many of whom were looking for campsites. If we have more campsite spaces available we will hopefully reduce ‘fly camping’ and litter throughout the park. We are anticipating similar numbers of visitors this year and this session will give farmers and landowners a chance to gauge if this could be an opportunity for them.”
The free online information session will be held on zoom on 24 February and you will need to register in advance as places are limited. More information here and booking here: Home | Lake District Events (nationalparksevents.co.uk)
Our photo shows a pop up campsite in Borrowdale from summer 2020. Find out more about farming and using land for campsites in the Lake District at: https://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/caringfor/farming/farming-in-protected-landscapes
