AN ENVIRONMENTAL partnership which has pumped thousands of pounds into Lake District conservation is celebrating its tenth birthday with a floating fun fair.

The Lake District Tourism and Conservation Partnership, which has spent the past decade funding conservation through tourism, is marking its milestone with a circus-style cruise on Windermere.

Next Monday’s event (7-9pm) is open to everyone and will see 200 people entertained by circus acts and fun fair games as part of the onboard bash.

The evening on the Lake, run in association with Jesters of Ambleside and with the help of Windermere Lakes Cruises, is also the launch-pad for the green group’s Super Raffle 2003 – with a week’s holiday in a Tuscan villa up for grabs.

LDTCP project co-ordinator Rebecca Walker said the floating event was a chance for the Partnership to celebrate its birthday while raising funds at the same time.

“We want to celebrate our success. During our ten years we have attracted more members each year and raised more money for local conservation projects.” Ten years ago the first steering group meeting took place between Cumbria Tourist Board, The National Trust and The Lake District National Park Authority.

The aim was to bring together tourism businesses and conservation groups for mutual benefit.

A decade later The Partnership has raised well over £325,000 for conservation projects through its innovative visitor payback schemes and has a number of awards under its belt.

Manager of the Partnership Kirstie Royce said: “The Partnership has come a long way in its first ten years and we have more to do in the next ten years. We now work actively with more than 155 organisations, covering the length and breadth of the county and beyond. “The fund-raising schemes are supporting a wide variety of conservation projects from footpath repair, habitat creation to access improvements and interpretation.” She added: “The Partnership has proved that voluntary levies do work. Give visitors the opportunity to contribute to their holiday environment, they will and they do so generously.” The Partnership received a British Airways Tourism for Tomorrow Award and more recently a Business in the Community Award, the Sieff Award, for its collaboration with the private sector.

Tickets for the floating fun fair cost £10 and are available from Jesters of Ambleside and from the LDTCP offices on Lake Road, Ambleside, 015394-34630.