Arthurs Eat wrote:I have to say that in general I agree that the people you are most likely to bump into on the hills are white and middle aged (just like me). I personally would like to see that change a bit.
This is a fascinating topic. I couldn't agree more with Arthurs Eat's comments. I think there are two different questions.
- Why is there less diversity among people on the hills than there is in the UK population? and
- Is this something that can be changed?
The answer to the second question differs depending on perspective. A philosopher of free will would say it is all about individual choice of how to spend your leisure time. A sociologist would point to cultural behaviour patterns.
The answer that comes from the world of marketing, though, is -
"Let's influence people's choices (and make some money too)."This is the kind of answer that tends to dominate such debates. The marketing perspective becomes the only perspective.
The original question gets rephrased. It becomes -
"How can we alter the image of the Lake District to make it more appealing to a greater diversity of people (so that they will come here and spend money)?" The same argument will no doubt soon be applied to areas in Scotland, especially the Cairngorms and Loch Lomond national parks. For example, it may impact on the debate about amenity vs nature in the Cairngorms.
What was originally a question about the choices people make, as to whether to visit an area and enjoy its countryside, gets turned into a marketing project a la The Apprentice (there was an episode recently about "rebranding" Finland).
The countryside itself becomes a "product" to be manipulated so that it is "marketable".
Schemes to "improve amenity" are put forward on the basis that they are "improving diversity" and "inclusive". However, their real aim will always be to make money.
The schemes do end up making money - but whether they actually promote diversity and inclusion is debatable.
I think it would be wonderful if the community of people who enjoy the hills was as diverse as possible.
But I recall a stay at a Center Parc. I found it stifling.
- It was a highly artificial version of the countryside.
- It was exclusively populated with white middle class people.
Tim