THE Orton Fells should become an area of outstanding natural beauty and not merged into a neighbouring national park, say Friends of the Lake District.

In a new report, FoLD says the area which includes the villages of Orton, Crosby Garrett, Great Asby, Crosby Ravensworth and Maulds Meaburn merits its own designation rather than being included in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

The group has submitted a report entitled Cumbria's Forgotten Landscapes' to the Countryside Agency, which is currently investigating a review of the boundaries of the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Park.

The agency agreed in May this year to investigate whether to include Orton Fells in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

But the landscape and culture of the area are distinct and do not reflect those of either the Lake District or Yorkshire Dales, says the report, which was written by expert consultant Frank Lee as part of a project started in 2001.

The report goes on to say that the Orton Fells meet the criteria to become a National Park in their own right, but are not big enough.

"The area should have a separate designation as an AONB and be managed locally by a Joint Advisory Committee which would bring significant landscape management benefits towards conservation and enhancement of its natural beauty," says the report.

Spokesman for FoLD Martin Varley said the report was designed to stimulate debate and could well be dismissed by the Countryside Agency.

But he said that FoLD would continue to highlight the need for action to protect the Orton Fells and other areas under consideration for national park designation by the CA.

The CA is currently investigating the inclusion of the northern Howgills, Mallerstang, Lune Valley, Middleton Fell, Barbon Fell, Leck Fell and the Cold Cotes in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

It is also considering whether to include Borrowdale, Bretherdale, Birkbeck Fells, Scout Green and Greenholme in the Lake District National Park, areas which are affected by the proposed Whinash Windfarm.

The Gazette reported earlier this year how the designation could be short-lived if the 27-turbine windfarm, the largest in Europe, was built.

The CA admitted at a public inquiry into the windfarm that indecision, delays and financial constraints spanning 60 years was the reason why the land had not been protected.

Planning inspector David Rose is still to submit his findings in the wake of the inquiry and the eagerly anticipated decision is not expected until next year.