Live it. Love it. Leave it unspoilt

Northumberland - Live it. Love it. Leave it Unspoilt

As the May Bank Holiday fast approaches, Northumberland County Council and Visit Northumberland are welcoming visitors with open arms as well as reminding tourists of the Countryside Code. 
  
To prepare for the upcoming Bank Holiday weekend, Northumberland County Council and Visit Northumberland have adopted a clear message to welcome visitors back to the region; Live it. Love it. Leave it unspoilt. 
 
You can view the campaign video here 
  
David Hall, Chair at Visit Northumberland explained: “We are delighted that certain restrictions have been lifted and people can enjoy our beautiful rural region once more. 
  
“Although the government advice is to stay local, we do expect an influx of visitors across the May bank holiday. Many people from outside the county may not know Northumberland well and we want to welcome them while gently reminding people to help keep our glorious county pristine for others to enjoy. 
  
“Our ‘Live it. Love it. Leave it unspoilt’ message is based on the Countryside Code and being so simple, we are hopeful that people will understand it. We have also developed clear guidance for our website and social pages on how to prepare for a visit and how to keep our region as lovely as it is. Remember to book attractions in advance, bring rubbish bags and take your litter away in case there aren’t any nearby bins, understand that not all toilets will be open and close gates to protect wildlife and livestock.”  
  
To help tourists leave no trace, Northumberland County Council has made a significant investment in improving regional facilities. 
  
Paul Jones, Director of Local Services at Northumberland County Council, said: “We want to encourage tourists to visit but to also respect our fantastic county.  
 
“We’re working with landowners to provide overflow parking in some of our busiest areas, have installed more bins with extra collections, and have all of our public toilets open with extra cleaning visits to help alleviate some of the common issues visitors face.  
 
“However people must remember that many of Northumberland’s towns and villages are small, with limited facilities and narrow access roads and to maintain public safety we’re still operating social distancing arrangements at facilities like public toilets, so at busy times there may be long queues.  
 
“We are expecting the coast, in particular, to be extremely busy, so be prepared for that and consider a Plan B if on arrival it’s too crowded. It’s a big county and there are plenty of great places to visit inland as well. 
 
“And with the recent spell of dry weather fire risk is now a significant concern, so we’re also asking visitors to leave their BBQs at home and to be careful when putting out cigarettes, to reduce the risk of wildfires damaging our beautiful countryside.” 
 
Mark Brassell, Garden Director at Alnwick Garden added: “The stunning landscapes and wide-open spaces make Northumberland a must-visit destination and we are expecting an influx of visitors over the Bank Holiday weekend.  
  
“I encourage all visitors and residents to adhere to the Countryside Code. Birds are nesting, there are lots of lambs about and of course, our hedgehogs are beginning to pair up for breeding. We need to be aware of this and remember the principles of ‘leave no trace’.  
  
“Another thing to remember is that many attractions and sites have limited capacity due to COVID restrictions so visitors are encouraged to book in advance to avoid disappointment. There is no better time of year to be out and about, so I encourage everyone to get out and enjoy the best of what Northumberland has to offer.” 
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