Heritage, Environment and Resilience Together
HEART
The Lake District World Heritage Site is facing growing pressure from climate change. Flooding, biodiversity loss, extreme weather and rising temperatures are already affecting the landscapes, traditions and heritage that make this place globally significant.
The 1 year HEART project responds to these challenges by bringing together robust research, inclusive community engagement and practical action on the ground. By connecting scientific evidence with lived experience, the project will help embed climate resilience into the future care of the Lake District’s Outstanding Universal Value.
Funded by the National Lottery Heritage fund.
Project update
HEART project moves from research and engagement into action...
Building the evidence
A key part of the project has been the development of a climate risk and adaptation study for the Lake District.
Following a competitive procurement process, JBA Consulting was commissioned to undertake the research. The final report has now been received and you can view it using the link below.
This evidence base will help identify where action is most needed. It will also inform the design of the HEART micro-grant programme, future community decision-making and longer-term investment priorities.
Listening to local voices
Community engagement has been central to HEART from the start.
Between January and March 2026, the project gathered insight through an online survey, face-to-face events, supermarket chat days, community-led research, filmed interviews and oral histories.
The engagement explored how people experience the Lake District, what they value about it, how climate change is affecting the landscape and who should shape its future.
People consistently described the Lake District as a living cultural landscape. They spoke about its fells, lakes, valleys, farms, villages, dry stone walls, wildlife, access routes and communities as deeply connected parts of one place.
As one person said:
“The landscape takes your breath away but still feels friendly and inviting.”
Climate change is already being felt
The engagement showed that many people believe climate change is already affecting the Lake District.
Flooding, heavier rainfall, more unpredictable weather, warmer and wetter winters, reduced snowfall, disrupted seasons, erosion, wildlife decline and pressure on farming were all raised as concerns.
Farmers described changing weather patterns in very practical terms. Wetter conditions, more erosion, less sunshine and shifts in grazing, vegetation growth and animal health are already affecting how land is managed.
Across the wider survey, flooding was one of the clearest themes. Respondents described more frequent and intense flood events, damage to homes, roads, farmland and infrastructure and the lasting impact this has on communities.
There was also strong support for the Lake District playing a leading role in climate adaptation. Of 61 survey respondents, 55 agreed or strongly agreed that the Lake District should lead the way.
One respondent put it simply:
“We should show the art of the possible.”
Shared Ground
In March, the HEART project brought partners, community representatives and stakeholders together at the Shared Ground event at Langdale Hotel.
The event combined emerging climate research, community insight and lived experience. It created space to discuss local priorities, future funding and the role of the Lake District as a World Heritage Site facing climate change.
A community panel brought together voices from farming, young people and community organisations. The event helped connect evidence with real experience and marked an important step towards future delivery.
Telling the story through Fault Lines
Storytelling is another important part of HEART.
Ten oral histories have now been recorded and filming has taken place across the Lake District, including Barrow, Ambleside, Grasmere, Staveley, Keswick, Hardknott and Langdale.
This work will form a 30-minute film titled Fault Lines.
The film shares perspectives from farmers, conservationists, business owners, outdoor leaders, young people and community voices. It explores climate resilience, land management, access, inclusion, identity and connection to place.
The oral histories have highlighted deep care for the Lake District, but also real concerns about inequality, housing pressure, environmental change and who feels able to access and shape the landscape.
One contributor said:
“When people experience this landscape and fall in love with it, they stop seeing it as something to use and start seeing it as something to care for.”
From insight to action
The next stage of HEART is about turning insight into action.
A £50,000 micro-grant programme is being developed to support community-led projects that respond to local climate, nature and heritage priorities.
The grant criteria have been shaped by the JBA research, the Shared Ground event and the community engagement work. Applications will be reviewed with community representatives to help ensure decisions are inclusive, transparent and rooted in local knowledge.
This approach means the funding will respond directly to the issues people have identified, from climate adaptation and nature recovery to heritage, access and community resilience.
Over the coming months, HEART will continue to move into its public-facing delivery phase.
This will include:
Micro-grants supporting community-led action
An evidence-led World Heritage Site social media campaign
Further development of the Fault Lines film
Sharing research and learning with partners and the public
A final invite only showcase event at Windermere Jetty Museum on 15 October 2026
The final showcase will bring together project learning, community-led work, research findings and storytelling outputs. It will also help open up conversations about future investment in the Lake District.
HEART Project - Community FAQs
What is HEART?
HEART stands for Heritage, Environment, Action, Resilience Together.
It is a one-year project (October 2025 – September 2026) that explores how the Lake District’s heritage, landscapes and communities can respond to climate change together.
The project is delivered by the Lake District Foundation and is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
What is the project trying to do?
HEART is about:
- Understanding how climate change is affecting the Lake District
- Listening to local people, farmers, land managers and communities
- Exploring how heritage – our landscapes, farming traditions, buildings and stories – can be part of climate solutions
- Testing small, practical ideas that could lead to bigger, longer-term change
It is a learning and development project, designed to help shape what happens next.
What do you mean by “heritage”?
In HEART, heritage includes:
- The cultural landscape shaped by farming and land management
- Historic features like dry-stone walls, paths and buildings
- Traditions, skills and ways of life
- The stories people tell about the Lake District and what makes it special
All of this is part of why the Lake District is a Lake District World Heritage Site.
Why is HEART happening now?
Climate change is already affecting the Lake District through:
- More intense rainfall and flooding
- Damage to paths, walls and soils
- Changes to habitats, wildlife and farming conditions
Many people want to be part of solutions, but need trusted spaces to talk, learn and try things out. HEART creates that space.
Who can get involved?
HEART is working with:
- Local residents and community groups
- Farmers and land managers
- Young people and schools
- Heritage, environmental and access organisations
- Businesses and visitors
There are different ways to take part, including surveys, events, conversations and pilot projects.
What is the Shared Ground event in March?
Shared Ground (March 2026) is a community and partner event where we:
- Share what we’re hearing from surveys and conversations
- Explore climate challenges and opportunities together
- Agree priorities for action and learning
- Shape the focus of pilot projects and small grants
It’s about listening, learning and finding common ground.
What are the small (micro) grants?
HEART includes a small pot of funding for micro-grants. These support practical, community-led projects that:
- Can be delivered within a short timeframe
- Have clear, visible outcomes
- Support climate resilience while respecting heritage
Examples of the kinds of projects that may be supported:
- Small World Heritage or climate interpretation projects
- Tree or hedgerow planting in community or farming settings
- Wildflower or pollinator planting
- Riverbank clean-ups or small restoration work
- Repairs to short sections of storm-damaged walls or paths
These projects are not meant to “solve everything”, but to test ideas, build confidence and learn what works.
Will these projects continue after HEART ends?
Some projects may finish within the year. Others may:
- Continue through other funding
- Feed into larger programmes
- Help attract future investment
HEART is designed to help move good ideas from early action to longer-term support.
What happens at the end of the project?
In October 2026, HEART will host a Final Funding & Investment Showcase.
This is a separate event from Shared Ground.
At this event we will:
- Share what HEART has learned overall
- Showcase pilot and micro-grant projects
- Highlight ideas that are ready to grow or be repeated
- Bring together funders, partners and investors
This includes links to Invest Lake District, which supports investment in projects that benefit nature, heritage and communities.
Is HEART about profit or carbon credits?
No. HEART is not about making a profit or selling carbon credits.
Any future investment linked to the project focuses on positive environmental and social impact, not financial returns.
How can I stay informed or take part?
You can:
- Take part in surveys
- Attend events
- Share your views and experiences
- Sign up for updates from the Lake District Foundation
There will be opportunities throughout the year to get involved in ways that suit you.
Why does my voice matter?
Because local knowledge, lived experience and care for place are essential for meaningful climate action.
HEART is about making sure future decisions are shaped with communities, not just about them.
