THE Lake District is facing mass resignations by its volunteer rangers over a decision to scrap free guided walks in the national park because they do not attract enough people from ethnic minority communities.

Ranger-led walks are among 900 Lake District events planned for 2005-06 that are to be dropped because they appeal mostly to “white, middle-class, middle-aged people”.

The cost-cutting move is part of a strategy that hopes to win extra government and European Union funding for the park by meeting targets to attract more young, urban, black, Asian and disabled people. Some people have accused the authority, which is due to ratify the decision today, of saying that white people are no longer welcome in the Lake District.

The park’s 300 volunteer rangers bring thousands of novice walkers to the Lake District every year. In addition to the scenic walks, volunteers run slide shows, pathfinder courses and farm visits for children, map and compass courses and sea and mountain rescue courses for adults.

Next year’s events guide for England’s largest national park was due to go to print when the rangers were told that it was to be torn up. There was no consultation.

Mick Casey, a media officer for the authority, said that the events programme was used by only 35,000 of the 14 million people who visit the Lake District annually. “The majority who do the walks are white, middle-class, middle-aged people,” he said. “The Government is encouraging national parks to appeal to young people, ethnic minorities and people with disabilities.”

Derek Tunstall, 51, a Lake District volunteer for 32 years, said that the rangers cost the authority only £32,000 last year in travel expenses, courses and safety equipment. “Some people who come on the walks every year feel devastated,” he said. “There will be widespread resignations if it goes ahead.”

Among those considering resigning is Derek Lyon, 73, a former chairman of the Lake District Voluntary Rangers: “We treat everyone the same on the walks, whatever their skin colour, age or social background. Stopping them seems incomprehensible.”

Peter Phizacklea, a member of the authority, agrees: “We need to make the Lake District more inclusive and attract younger people and those from minority groups, but this is not the way to go about it.”

Michael Bentley, the authority’s chairman, refused to discuss today’s meeting.

WAYS TO WALK

Coast to Coast Path: A 190-mile route from St Bees on the Irish Sea to Robin Hood’s Bay on the North Sea via the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors

Pennine Way: From the Peak District national park, the 270-mile walk passes through the Pennines, the Yorkshire Dales and Northumberland, across Hadrian’s Wall to the Cheviot Hills just over the Scottish border

Offa’s Dyke Path: From the Severn Estuary in Chepstow, the 177-mile route through the Wye Valley and Brecon Beacons ends in the North Wales resort of Prestatyn

South Downs Way: 100 miles, from Winchester to Eastbourne, through one of the richest plant habitats on Earth

Pembrokeshire Coast Path: 180 miles of striking coastal scenery in Wales, from Dogmaels via St David’s, Pembroke and Tenby, ending at Amroth

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