An informative nature trail is to be developed in the heart of the Lake District thanks to money raised by Residents Open Week.

South Lakeland residents were invited to donate £1 in return for a pass, which opened the doors to free or discounted hospitality at local attractions, hotels and retail outlets.

South Lakeland District Council's assistant tourism officer Cherie Fox said about £2,500 had been raised during the five-day event.

"The week went really well," she said.

"We are hoping it will be a bumper year, and the event was to give the area an extra push after foot-and-mouth and to say there is lots to see and do."

This is the fifth year SLDC's cultural and tourism services has teamed up with the Lake District Tourism and Conservation Partnership to promote attractions and support conservation work.

This year's proceeds will help develop an interpretive nature trail around Ash Landing, next to the lake at Bowness.

The LDTCP's Kirstie Royce said the site had been developed into a nature reserve, and there were plans to install mounted panels, explaining the role and importance of natural habitats.

Footpaths in the reserve will also be improved as part of the project.

"It will be for visitors, residents and school children to use as a source of information on the reserve and the wider Cumbrian countryside," said Ms Royce.

" We need hundreds of

thousands of pounds to support conservation work in the Lake District," she added.

"Any contribution, however large or small, makes an invaluable difference.

Without it we wouldn't be able to support projects like this."