What future for upland communities in Cumbria? That's the question former Caldbeck GP Dr Jim Cox, of the Commission for Rural Communities, will be addressing at Friends of the Lake District's annual Kirby Lecture on Thursday 23 September at 7pm.

The talk at Penrith Methodist Church will look at how valuable our upland areas are to society and how we must turn round the economic fortunes of our uplands. Dr Cox will highlight the findings and recommendations in the Commission's Uplands Report: 'High Ground, High Potential - a future for England's upland communities'.

Dr Cox said: "Without economically viable hill farms and vibrant upland rural communities the character and sense of place of the Lake District and wider Cumbria will be lost. The Commission for Rural Communities' Uplands Inquiry Report is a call on Government and everyone with a stake in the uplands to rally round common objectives and to ensure that we invest in the people and rural businesses who manage and make a living from the land."

Jack Ellerby, Friends of the Lake District Policy Officer said: "For too many years policy makers have labelled upland areas as economically and agriculturally disadvantaged' and 'less favoured'. The Uplands Report shows us why this is wrong. Our uplands are a major asset to the nation. They contain a wealth of rare and valuable wildlife habitats, and of course many of our finest landscapes - the National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty."

Why not join the afternoon guided walk at Glencoyne Farm beforehand to look at hill farming in shadow of Helvellyn, and see first hand some of the issues being discussed in the lecture.

The lecture is free and begins at 7.30pm with refreshments available from 7pm.
For more information please visit www.fld.org.uk, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or phone 01539 720788.

* Kirby Lecture: 'New horizons: a future for upland communities'
Thurs 23 September - 7pm refreshments. 7.30pm-9pm talk. Venue: Penrith Methodist Church, Wordsworth Street, Penrith, Cumbria CA11 7QY. To see a map click here. For parking information click here. Booking recommended. 01539 720788 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it FREE

* Glencoyne Farm walk: Low Carbon Hill Farming in the Shadow of Helvellyn
Well behaved dogs on leads are welcome. Thurs 23 September 2 - 4.30pm. Grade/length: Moderate, hilly, 1 mile. Booking required. Flora of the Fells 01539 733187 or visit www.floraofthefells.com. FREE to Friends of the Lake District members / Non members £3, plus donations for tea and coffee on the day.

Dr Jim Cox OBE is a former rural General Practitioner in Caldbeck, Cumbria, Medical Director of Cumbria Ambulance Service and chairman of Royal College of General Practitioners' Rural Practice Group. He was also an Associate Director of the NHS National Clinical Assessment Authority and chairman of the Northern Fells Rural Project which became the Northern Fells Group, addressing rural social exclusion. He is a Deputy Lieutenant of Cumbria, and is a board member of the Commission for Rural Communities.

The Commission for Rural Communities is funded by Government to help ensure that policies, programmes and decisions take proper account of the circumstances of rural communities. It has a particular focus on disadvantaged people and areas suffering from economic under-performance.