The grizedale project

 

Latest News March 2008 

 Car park - The new car park, completed and opened in August 2007 is now being fully utilised by the public, featuring a tree lined pedestrian exit route leading to a designated road crossing point opposite the Centre, traffic calming measures have  been put in put in place to reduce the speed limit to 30mph. The Millwood car park is now closed to the public. 

Education and Resource Centre - Building has now been completed with the official opening and naming announced for Monday 23rd June 2008.  The Centre will be used by the Education Team and with the appointment of the new Education Ranger in March it  signals an exciting phase for the provision of learning in Grizedale. 

Eating at Grizedale- Building work on the new Cafe has now commenced on the site of the old Shop/Visitor Centre. The temporary takeaway facility in the Walled Garden area will continue for the summer season.    

Bats - We are also about to submit a bat licence to DEFRA which will allow work to be carried out in buildings that are inhabited by bats. The mitigation proposals include the construction of two new bat loft areas for Brown Long Eared bats as well as the potential of a 'bat cam' in one of the roosting areas. We are looking to work with our bat consultant and the National Park. It is important that we minimise the impact of the development on the wildlife and enhance it wherever possible.

Minibus Shuttle Service (Grizedale Project Travel Plan)

The X30 minibus shuttle service  (Haverthwaite - Grizedale - Hawkshead) commenced its first season of  operating in March. Although only running for a few weeks, initial passenger numbers are encouraging. A distinctive livery has now been designed for the vehicles used on the route which will be in place by the end of May. 

The plans for the Grizedale Visitor Centre are part of the wider Grizedale Project which aims to improve the quality of the visitor experience and support the local economy in the South Lakes. With no significant reinvestment made at the Grizedale Centre for the last 17 years the plan is to re-develop the Centre to improve the layout, refurbish and upgrade existing facilities. The plans are about improving the quality of the visitor experience and sustainability rather than increasing visitor numbers. The Grizedale Project proposes a unique combination of opportunities for visitors, local communities and businesses through collaborative working and a holistic "whole landscape" approach.

Project Area

The project area is the Furness Fells which extends from Windermere in the east to Coniston Water in the west, from Hawkshead in the north to the A590 in the south (see enclosed illustrative map). This area is historically associated with the coppice and iron industries which has left a legacy of one of the most wooded Districts in England today. Grizedale Forest Park, which extends to 2500 ha of forest and farmland, is owned and managed by the Forestry Commission.

Vision

Through collaborative working and a holistic approach at a whole landscape scale level, provide a unique combination of opportunities for visitors, local communities and businesses. The new Grizedale Centre will be the hub and catalyst providing access to the unique natural, built and cultural heritage of the Furness Fells within the Lake District National Park.

If anyone would like to see the full plans including site layout, architectural plans and Travel Plan they can be viewed at Grizedale.  Please ring 01229 860373 to arrange a time to view the plans.  If you have any further questions please email enquiries.nwefd@forestry.gov.uk. As the plans progress we will provide further updates.     

More information about the Grizedale Project is available as an Adobe Acrobat file.