A COUNTRYWIDE scheme to open up England’s national parks to ethnic minorities took a stride forward when 10 potential ‘champions’ gathered in the Lake District.
Launched by TV adventurer Ben Fogle in July, the Government-backed Mosaic campaign targets 20 cities, linking them to the country’s nine national parks, to encourage wider access to the land’s best countryside.
Although around nine per cent of the population is from an ethnic minority, they make up only one per cent of national park visitors.
The aim is to find and train champions, who will then urge their communities to share these iconic areas.
The Lake District National Park is developing contacts with Lancaster, Blackburn, Preston and Manchester.
Over the weekend, interested individuals gathered in Ambleside.
Steering the project for the Lake District National Park Authority, Lucy McQuillan said: “We are delighted to welcome such enthusiastic and willing people who will make convincing role models in their communities.”
Once appointed, 200 champions will work with their national parks, encouraging an extra 4,000 ethnic visitors and ultimately reaching around 40,000 people.
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