Something is stirring in the sleepy, tranquil Lake District. And believe it or not, it’s all down to the humble sheep.
What’s going on? Well, conservationists are calling for the Lake District to be stripped of its UNESCO World Heritage status, claiming that the illustrious title leads to sheep farming being prioritised over all other kinds. This is bad, apparently. Because too many sheep doing too much grazing can stop trees from growing back, reduce biodiversity and cause lots of other less-than-ideal outcomes. The more ewe know!
So, ecologist Lee Schofield has written to UNESCO arguing that their designation of the Lake District ‘promotes a false perception of farming,’ fuels overtourism and stands in the way of efforts to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss. He also says that the UNESCO status isn’t even helping local farmers, and is ‘not wanted by local people’.
It’s not just him, though. The campaign is backed by a report from World Heritage Watch, co-authored by Schofield, as well as experts Dr Karen Lloyd and Professor Ian Convery. The report claims the UNESCO designation celebrates sheep farming above all else - pointing out that ‘sheep’ is mentioned 357 times in the original 716-page nomination document. How they counted them without falling asleep, we’ll never know.
And sheep aren’t the only problem. Campaigners say the UNESCO status also fuels overtourism and puts barriers in the way of efforts to rewild the region. Not everyone agrees, of course - but whether the campaign gains traction remains to be seen.
UNESCO haven’t yet responded - but watch this (incredibly scenic) space. The sheep saga might not be over yet.
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