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Children from schools across South Lakeland have been celebrating as their attempt to write the World’s Longest Letter rolls in at a whopping 290 metres in length – as high as the smallest Wainwright fell, Castle Crag! 

The children are confident it has earned a place in the as the longest letter ever written in the UK and the submission will now be sent to Official World Records.

Pupils from eight schools in the Kendal area wrote the longest letter to the Lake District’s World Heritage bid team, to help them show the UNESCO judging panel why the national park is so special to them. The result is a giant reel of heartfelt messages expressing their love for the beautiful place they call home.

Excerpts from the letter include:

"I love the Lake District because it is a stunning place to live, with hundreds of things to do, from hiking to canoeing and rock climbing. If you plan on coming to the Lake District, make sure you pack your wellies!"

"I love the fact that no matter where you are in the Lake District, if you go to a café you're almost guaranteed good homemade food." 

The project was led by paper manufacturer James Cropper and the Lake District National Park. Following its tour round schools earlier this year, the letter was then displayed at Brockhole, the Lake District Visitor Centre, throughout the summer where visitors were invited to take part and make the letter even longer.

Tim Tidman, product manager at James Cropper Paper, joined Peter Hensman, chair of the Lake District National Park Partnership’s Business Task Force, who received the longest letter on behalf of the group of 25 organisations responsible for the Lake District’s bid for World Heritage status in 2016. 

Pupils at eight schools from the Kendal area included: Queen Katherine School, Castle Park School, Vicarage Park, Stramongate Primary School, Ghyllside Primary School, Grayrigg Primary School, St Mark’s Primary School and St Thomas' Primary School.

In the photo is: Tim Tidman of James Cropper (far left) and school children present their ‘Longest Letter’ record attempt to Peter Hensman on behalf of the Lake District World Heritage bid team, at Brockhole the Lake District Visitor Centre, Windermere, (21 Oct 2015). Children are from Queen Katherine School, Vicarage Park Primary and Grayrigg Primary School.