THE owners of a miniature village which attracts thousands of visitors each year are retiring after nearly 30 years.
Edward and Kathleen Robinson have run Lakeland Miniature Village in Flookburgh for decades, but now the pair have put forward plans to convert the site back into a home to enjoy their retirement.
Mr Robinson is the architect behind the inch-perfect models of the Lake District’s most distinctive buildings.
OWNER: Edward Robinson of Lakeland Miniature Village
Beatrix Potter’s Hill Top, Bridge House at Ambleside and Townend Farmhouse at Troutbeck are just some of his 100-strong collection.
Open to the public for 21 years and attracting around 6,000 visitors a year – depending on the weather – it’s a treasure trove showing a bygone Lake District.
INTRICATE: Hill Top Home of Beatrix Potter
However, now the 74-year-old has officially closed the miniature village and oriental gardens to the public, with plans to sell the unique buildings and display them in another area of the Lakes.
He said: "My wife unfortunately has been struggling over the past few years.
"She actually caught Covid and was very ill. We're both getting to that age where we're finding it hard work and need a change. We might have a buyer who plans on buying all the miniature houses but it's still very early days. I'm hoping we can place the village somewhere else. We'd like to see it moved to Ambleside - that's really the epicentre of the Lakes.
TINY: The miniature village has been a firm favourite tourist attraction in Flookburgh for a number of years
"We'd like to convert the space into a garden and wildlife area as I'm very interested in different species."
Mr Robinson said it will be a sad day when the pair bid farewell to their iconic and universally-loved village.
"I really did enjoy meeting so many different," he said.
"We've met people along the way who have become real friends. We never know we'd be running it for this long.
"It'll be a sad day when the houses go, but we want people to see them, they can't just be stuck here with us.
"We're both looking forward to a trip or two around the Lakes in our retirement."
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