HAIL AND RIDE OSPREY

As anticipation mounts over the arrival of the Lake District’s famed ospreys, hundreds of thousands of fans will have another reason to celebrate this year – a liveried bus service named after the spectacular birds of prey.

Friday 11 April sees the launch of the pioneering Osprey Bus. It links Keswick with a round Bassenthwaite Lake public transport route taking in Whinlatter and the famous Dodd Wood viewpoint, which celebrated its half millionth visitor last summer.

Hopes are high that large numbers of people will be encouraged to leave cars in Keswick, taking pressure off narrow country roads and rural communities such as Braithwaite, currently a bottleneck for traffic.

Special guests for the inaugural journey include regional manager of the Environment Agency John Collins, chairman of the Lake District Osprey Project Graeme Prest, Keswick Mayor Roger Purkiss and representatives from leading Cumbrian organisations.

The Osprey Bus is backed by the Heritage Lottery Fund, through Bassenthwaite Reflections, a programme of 22 community landscape projects designed to protect the lake and landscape. In the long term it is hoped the service will be self-funding.

From 12 April, through to the end of August, on weekends, Bank holidays and school holidays, the timetable includes six daily lake circuits, taking alternate anticlockwise and clockwise routes, plus an early direct service from Keswick to Whinlatter.

Reflections’ project officer Karin Crofts said: “This is part of our Access for All programme and supports the hugely popular Lake District Osprey Project by developing a much needed sustainable transport system.

“It’s all about getting cars off roads, resulting in less hazards, less congestion and less pollution, which will protect and improve the quality of the lake and its surroundings.”

Karin explained that in addition to the scheduled timetable stops, the bus would operate on a hail and ride basis. It will be possible to stop at Dubwath Silver Meadows wetlands reserve and other attractions around the lake.

She added: “The bus cycle rack is also likely to have an impact on the number of cars travelling to Whinlatter as biking is enormously popular in and around the forest. We hope the bus is going to be a big success with visitors and locals alike.”

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Note to newsdesks: there will be a press call at Whinlatter Visitor Centre’s bus stop at 11am on Friday 11 April, for interviews and photographs. Please contact Jennie Whythe on 01539 792732jennie.whythe@lake-district.gov.uk  if you would like to attend.

Notes to editors: Bassenthwaite Reflections is a Heritage Lottery funded programme. Reflections partners are made up of Environment Agency, Lake District National Park Authority, National Trust, Forestry Commission, Grampus Heritage and Training and Cumbria County Council.  For further information on any of the 22 projects in the programme contact Karin Crofts on 017687 73204, email:karin.crofts@environment-agency.gov.uk websitewww.bassenthwaite-reflections.co.uk