Cumbria set to strike gold this Autumn
This autumn will provide Cumbria with one of its biggest tourism opportunities for years, according to a top Lakeland holiday provider.
Skelwith Fold Caravan Park in Ambleside says it is already experiencing above-average bookings from visitors hoping to witness England's finest display of autumnal colours.
These are likely to be missing from many parts of the UK's landscape according to rural watchdog the Country and Land Business Association.
Vivid golden and red leaves will be in short supply, says the CLA, after much of England endured the driest start to the year since 1929.
But Cumbria with its higher rainfall is likely to prove the largest single exception, says Skelwith Fold's Henry Wild - and he believes that a gold-rush could be on the cards:
"September and October short break bookings are very strong this year, and many people tell us it's because they don't want to miss out on the amazing displays which Cumbria lays on.
"As a county whose economy is heavily dependent on tourism, we ought not to miss this chance of selling our greatest natural asset," said Henry.
Skelwith Fold was named as the Holiday Park of the Year in 2010 by Cumbria Tourism, and Henry says that many of its visitors are especially sympathetic to the environment.
Earlier this summer, his business commissioned an independent study by researchers at Lancaster University into Skelwith Fold's carbon footprint.
The university's greenhouse gas experts concluded that people staying at the park were among the UK's most eco-friendly holidaymakers.
Lancaster University has established a nationally recognised method of measuring carbon footprints which involves an exhaustive survey of every carbon-producing facet of a business.
At Skelwith Fold, this meant measuring over 100 separate carbon-producing aspects of the park, from electricity and gas to the park's grass cutters and coffee-making machines.
Even the Skelwith Fold T-shirts supplied to staff came under the carbon microscope.
Skelwith Fold, they concluded, sustained only a very low carbon footprint with little evidence of energy wastage by the park or its guests.
The university's figures suggest that an overnight stay by two guests in a touring caravan would produce an average of just 4kg of carbon dioxide, said Henry:
"This compares, for instance, with almost half a tonne of carbon dioxide for which a couple flying to Spain and back would be responsible," he commented.
"For many visitors to Cumbria this autumn, green and gold is going to make an irresistible combination," added Henry.