The Lake District reverted to more normal October weather for the delegates

A group of visitors looking at climate change in a national park were caught out by a sudden variation in the local climate as temperatures plunged by 12C overnight.

The delegates from Europe expected the Lake District to be basking in 27C heat, but were left shivering when more typical seasonal temperatures returned to the national park.

Fourteen representatives from Italy and Slovenia came to the Lake District to learn how the park authority is reducing its own carbon footprint, managing a carbon budget and encouraging low-carbon tourism.

But they had not dressed for the changeable Lake District weather – a good 12 degrees cooler and much wetter than their online research had led them to expect.

Lake District National Park Authority climate change adviser Becky Willis said: “The delegates were really cold.

“The internet had indicated that last week we’d been experiencing temperatures of 27C, but of course all that had changed by Monday, and our visitors weren’t really dressed for our normal October weather.”

The delegation chose the Lake District as a venue simply by searching the internet for worldwide protected areas that were trying to tackle climate change, and had been impressed with what has been achieved locally.

“In their own countries they are facing the same difficulties as we are, such as declining funding and trying to balance economic development and conservation,” Ms Willis added. “The visit was a great success and we all learned a great deal from each other.”

The European group visited Brockhole, the national park visitor centre on the shores of Windermere, where park management ranger Steve Tatlock explained the impacts climate change is having on the wildlife of England’s largest lake.

The visitors also had the opportunity to try out electric cycles, the latest environmentally friendly form of transport which is becoming popular in the national park.