Amy Bray

A young environmental campaigner, a film-maker and two photographers have been appointed patrons of the Friends of the Lake District.

Amy Bray, Terry Abraham and Rosamund and John Macfarlane join the ranks of special supporters of the charity, which has campaigned for the protection of the national park’s landscape for 85 years.

Ms Bray was just 17 when she founded her environmental charity Another Way, inspiring thousands to make pledges to protect and enhance both the local and global environment. Among her projects are the zero-waste shop Another Weigh, community tree-planting and education programme Devotion to Ocean.

Her passion for conservation was kindled in the fells and becks of the Lake District. She said: “There is nowhere on earth quite as unique and special as this national park, nowhere I feel so connected to the nature that we share our planet with.

“I am honoured to be able to support the work of Friends of the Lake District to protect and enhance this precious landscape and home.”

Terry Abraham

Cinematographer and photographer Terry Abraham is best known for producing and directing Life of a Mountain: Scafell Pike and Life of a Mountain: Blencathra, both of which have been broadcast in edited form on the BBC. He is currently producing the final film in his Life of a Mountain trilogy featuring Helvellyn.

The dramatic footage of some of Cumbria’s most celebrated peaks and intimate interviews with those living their shadow serve to illustrate Terry’s passion for the Lake District. He said: “When approached about becoming a patron a couple of months or so ago I was both stunned and honoured.

“I’ve always admired the charity for what it stands for and believes in for many years.

“Goodness only knows that in recent years there have been and continue to be various threats from many angles that seek to commercialise, and more besides, England’s most popular national park.”

John and Rosamund Macfarlane

Rosamund and John Macfarlane are award winning photographers whose work captures the true essence of the Lake District landscape, a product of their lifelong passion for the landscape, nature, wildlife and travel.

They said: “We are delighted and honoured to become patrons. We shall do what we can to spread the vital message about maintaining such a much loved environment for the wellbeing of those who live and work here, for the benefit of the many visitors and for the conservation of our flora and fauna.”

The charity works to encourage people to be inspired by the beauty and diversity of the Cumbrian and Lake District landscape, to have an understanding of how it has been shaped and to care for and help look after it for the benefits it brings to people’s lives.

A Friends spokesperson said: “[The new patrons] all join an illustrious list who have offered their support to the charity since its creation in 1934. It is encouraging to see that the enduring landscape of Cumbria continues to inspire talented artists, passionate conservationists and charities like Friends of the Lake District to celebrate and to care for it.”