Climbing restrictions are in place at sites such as Buckbarrow Crag, Longsleddale

National park bosses are reminding climbers of annual restrictions on certain crags which help protect birds from disturbance during the nesting and breeding season.

Rangers in the Lake District have been working with the climbing community and statutory environmental bodies to agree which crags should be out of bounds to rockclimbers.

The rockfaces are home to birds such as the peregrine falcon and raven and restrictions on climbing have already come into force on some routes.

Pete Barron, park management ranger for the Lake District National Park Authority, said: “Peregrines are a protected species and it is unlawful to disturb them at the nest.

“The restrictions we agree detail some of the key breeding crags, but equally important is highlighting the issue of disturbance of protected or vulnerable species to the climbing fraternity in general.”

Although the restrictions, which are lifted as soon as is practical or when not required, can ultimately be enforceable by law, a voluntary code of conduct has worked well in previous seasons the park authority said.

Details of restrictions in the Lake District and other areas of England and Wales can be seen on the British Mountaineering Council’s website.

Mr Barron added: “Climbers in the Lake District are very respectful of the restrictions and indeed often call throughout the summer when they find birds breeding on crags which don’t have any restrictions.”