ANYONE who adores the Lake District can demonstrate their love by sending an unique Valentine's Day message on February 14.

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Lake District National Park, professional mountaineer Sir Chris Bonington is launching a special appeal on February 14 with the aim of raising more than £200,000 to fund vital conservation work.

And to mark the launch of the appeal, he is assembling a giant Valentine's card to send to the Lake District, signed by and with messages from all those who love the area.

"As a professional climber, I have been lucky enough to visit many amazing places in the world," said Sir Chris.

"Yet it is always so good to come home to the Lake District.

Walking among the Cumbrian hills still conjures up feelings of wonder, jubilation and peace.

"It is a precious area that I love dearly and I hope your readers will join me in demonstrating this."

LDNPA fund-raising officer Chris Fancy said he hoped the campaign would be very successful.

"There are many thousands of people who love the Lake District, who live here or who visit, and we just want to reach a small sample of that and say, 'We need help maintaining and conserving the area'," he said.

"By getting it in the papers we also hope it will be read by people further afield."

To take part, write your signature and any message on a piece of paper and send it to Emma Dewhurst at the Lake District National Park Authority, Murley Moss, Kendal, Cumbria LA9 7RL or visit their website www.lake-district.gov.uk and sign the Virtual Valentine Guestbook.

The messages and signatures will be scanned into a giant card, which will be delivered to Sir Chris at Brockhole Visitor Centre, Ecclerigg, on February 14 at 10am.