In this article, we focus on community engagement, one of the three core principles upon which sustainable estate management is based.

In accordance with Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA) guidance, our Whole Estate Plan (WEP) for Higham Estate not only ensures the estate is financially sustainable and enhances the environment, but also that it delivers a strategy aligned with community aspirations.

The Whole Estate Planning process is inherently holistic, recognising that every element of an estate is interconnected: its land, heritage, biodiversity, economy and community. Each aspect of estate management supports and benefits the others. For example, the local community values its environment, the availability of local jobs, and the ability to walk and enjoy the landscape – all of which are closely tied to the estate’s long-term success.

A core vision we established was for Higham Estate to become an organisation that plays an active role in fostering a prosperous local economy while supporting a vibrant, thriving community.

Understanding the community

We began by assessing the community and cultural assets surrounding the estate and asking a simple question: what is the community around Higham today?

Historically, the estate formed the centre of the local parish, and many more people would once have had a direct connection through working on its six farms. Today, there are still residents and workers on the estate, as well as many people living in the surrounding area.

We investigated demographics, and the facilities available in the area. It was noticeable that one third of the population is retired and the number of self-employed and entrepreneurial people is above average.

An analysis showed that fewer than one per cent of residents are younger, frequent, ‘eclectic art engagers’. In contrast, 21 per cent are rural and small-town pensioners attracted to daytime activities and historical content, while another significant group comprises people living in suburbs and smaller towns who are regular attendees at heritage activities and mainstream arts while being less likely to be attracted by contemporary offerings.

In this way, we can build an objective view of communities and begin to understand what their aspirations might be and who might be interested in what the estate has to offer.

Finding opportunities

By gaining an understanding of community concerns and interests, we were able to identify practical opportunities to deliver mutual benefit.

We explored the potential for additional parking and toilet facilities on the estate to help alleviate pressure nearby, and considered ways to improve active travel routes, road crossings along the A66, and potential employment opportunities linked to estate development.

The LDNPA shares similar concerns about managing parking and access to the lake. Working collaboratively, we identified how new facilities on the estate could help influence the type of activity occurring around the lake.

The Park also wants to create a cycleway linking Keswick and Cockermouth along the lakeside. By offering to help complete a section of the route through the estate we were able to contribute to their vision and at the same time help to deliver on a community aspiration for better connectivity and sustainable travel.

By listening to the community and then overlaying their desires with the estate’s vision and the national park’s vision we were able to see where they could synchronise.

Following consultations with local businesses, we were also able to suggest pathways linking them around the estate again conferring benefits for all parties, including local people who can park and walk around these points of interest.
This collaborative approach ensures that Higham Estate’s future development supports not only its own sustainability but also the wellbeing of the people and places around it.