Multi award-winning hotel and restaurant East Lodge is further enhancing its long standing association with Friends of the Peak District, by announcing an even closer working relationship - and a new partnership agreement between the two.

Many guests choose to stay at East Lodge to explore the stunning countryside of the surrounding area, so the hotel has always been a keen supporter of the work of Friends of the Peak District - a local group formed to safeguard the landscape of Britain's first and most beautiful national park.

As East Lodge come on board as partners, a closer working relationship is being forged in terms of advertising and a new sponsorship package; designed to further support Friends of the Peak District's work in preserving this stunning landscape for residents and visitors to the region and perhaps more importantly, for future generations to come.

"East Lodge has always been a staunch supporter of Friends of the Peak District and we are proud to be playing a greater part in caring for and protecting these incredible landscapes," said East Lodge Deputy Managing Director Iain Hardman. "As well as now working together as partners, we are also looking at other ways of collaborating together and letting our guests and the wider community know about the work that goes into preserving our environmental heritage."

"We are delighted that East Lodge is so supportive of our work to protect the Peak District. We're looking forward to working with them more closely, and to helping their guests understand more about what keeps the Peak District such a special place," said Carol Robinson, Chief Executive of Friends of the Peak District.

As well as being the closest hotel to the celebrated Chatsworth House, East Lodge benefits greatly from being at the heart of the Peak District.

Guests have a strong interest in the national park on the hotel's doorstep and as a popular venue for Peak weddings, many brides have chosen East Lodge for the stunning backdrops the region can afford for photographs, with East Lodge itself nestled amid 10 acres of its own grounds.                                                 

East Lodge recognises that encouraging visitors to the Peak District is desirable for the business and the wider region but visitors can have a negative impact. Visitors must be provided with information to help preserve the local environment, without inadvertently causing harm. The relationship with Friends of the Peak District ensures that East Lodge guests leave the Peaks wiser about the vital work that goes into preservation and how they can play their part.

"Tourism remains vital to the national park on our doorstep, but it must be sustainable and with Friends of the Peak District we are in an ideal position to encourage this," added Iain. "Too often people speak of the negative impact of tourism in terms of damage to the landscape and traffic congestion; while ignoring the jobs tourism creates for local people, the positive impact on the local economy, not to mention the fact that many of our guests come specifically to see the spectacular scenery and wildlife - which delivers a welcome pressure on those of us who live here to conserve our natural environment, as it is in our interests."

With Friends of the Peak District, East Lodge provides information for guests on how to be responsible tourists and leave the Peak as they find it for others to enjoy. Visitors spend a great deal on local produce, crafts and accommodation and East Lodge is proud to be playing its part in this two-way process.

East Lodge remains one of the top hotels and restaurants in the UK, with a prestigious range of accolades to its name. Owned by the Hardman family, East Lodge recently won gold at this year's East Midlands Tourism Awards and can also point to the coveted AA "Inspectors' Choice" Award, with three red stars for 2011 placing it within the top 150 hotels in the whole of the UK and East Lodge remains just one of 48 hotels in the country presented with a Visit England Gold Award.