Roe deer © Jon Hawkins/Surrey Hill Photography
Making our nature reserves even better for wildlife
What are Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s nature reserves?
Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s nature reserves are special places that have either been purchased by, given to, or are managed by the Trust itself.
All our nature reserves have rare or unusual habitats or species at risk of disappearing if we don’t protect them. We have 43 nature reserves that you can visit.
Many nature reserves also have legal protections such as designation as Sites of Special Scientific Interest and Special Areas of Conservation. Places that have these designations are also monitored by Natural England. Working closely with them ensures any changes we make have the best outcomes for wildlife.
Why do nature reserves matter?
Nature reserves matter because they are strongholds for wildlife. Without them many species of plants and animals could disappear from Cumbria altogether.
In Cumbria only 15% of land is currently protected for wildlife and only one fifth of this protected land is in a good condition for wildlife.Cumbria Wildlife Trust
We’re calling for at least 30% of our land and sea to be connected and protected for nature’s recovery by 2030. With this in mind, we aim to expand our nature reserves where we can and create new ones.
We also want to help people spend time in nature and to enjoy the benefits that wildlife can bring for wellbeing. Our nature reserves open to visitors all have footpaths.
We plan to improve some of our larger nature reserves so they are accessible to more people. For those who have difficultly visiting nature reserves in-person we offer virtual tours for some of our reserves. These tours are also useful for people who want to know what to expect before they visit.
Our nature reserve staff and volunteers carry out day-to-day maintenance and small restoration projects. Where the work is extensive or difficult we look for funding to help us complete nature restoration projects.
Our on-going nature reserve projects:
Skiddaw Forest
Vast and remote, Skiddaw Forest Nature Reserve comprises 3,000 acres of upland heathland, peat bogs and gills, fringed by the Lake District’s dramatic northern fells.
Together with the help of our members, supporters, farmers, commoners and the local community, we will ensure this major part of the Lake District National Park becomes a haven for wildlife and an ally in the fight against the climate emergency.
This is a long-term nature recovery project that will initially focus on four priorities:
- Creating Atlantic rainforest
- Restoring peatlands
- Improving heathland
- Safeguarding heritage
Donate to our Skiddaw Forest Nature Reserve appeal to help to restore 990 acres of peatland, create 620 acres of Atlantic rainforest and bring a range of wildlife back to Cumbria’s uplands.
Skiddaw Forest Land Purchase is supported by Aviva as part of The Wildlife Trusts’ Atlantic Rainforest Restoration programme.
Restoration of peatland at Skiddaw Forest is funded by Biffa Award.
Skiddaw Community Tree Nurseries
As well as The Victoria Wood Tree Nursery at our office near Kendal, we’re establishing another three tree nurseries, at Gosling Sike in Carlisle, Bassenthwaite, near Keswick and at Cold Springs Community Nature Reserve in Penrith.
Trees grown at the nurseries will be planted as part of the estimated 600,000 trees needed for Skiddaw Forest Nature Reserve. Our aim is to create over 620 acres of temperate Atlantic Rain Forest as part of our 100-year vision.
Growing our own stocks using a network of community nurseries established for this purpose is a cornerstone of our entire Skiddaw Forest restoration programme. The nurseries will give plenty of opportunities for people to get involved.
We are also working in partnership with mental ill health charity Growing Well, which is growing trees for Skiddaw Forest at Tebay, and with Haverigg Prison at Millom.
Our tree nurseries are funded by The Victoria Wood Foundation and Ecological Restoration Fund.
Staveley Woodlands
A number of woodlands come together to form Staveley Woodlands Nature Reserve. The most recent, Craggy Wood, was bought in partnership with the local community in 2020.
The reserve now covers 57 acres, and following an assessment and consultation with the community, it was clear that Staveley Woodlands needed better signage.
Through this funded project, we’ll be creating orientation panels at different entry points, way-marker posts and discs, a children’s trail and benches. There will be improvements to the deteriorating boardwalk and a new bridge.
Funded by SUEZ Communities Fund - England
Hale Moss
Hale Moss Nature Reserve is a woodland and an open fen which is wet and marshy. It’s unusual in that it’s alkaline fen on top of peatland. It’s the most northern example of this habitat type and nationally important.
Scott’s pine has been removed to create more open-fen habitat and a hydrological survey will be done to assess whether further restoration works to raise water levels are needed. We’re also installing new fencing and other infrastructure to allow grazing cattle.
Funded by Natural England and Farming in Protected Landscapes fund via Arnside and Silverdale National Landscape.
Bowber Head Access and Interpretation
We’ll be creating a new parking area inside of the farm yard by installing a new cattle grid at the entrance to Bowber Head to replace the current dilapidated gated entrance and keep free roaming livestock out.
We’ll also replace a gated stile with more accessible bridle gate. There will be a new visitor welcome area and signage.
Funded by the Farming in Protected Landscapes Programme
Holme Park Quarry
At Hutton Roof Crags we’re restoring areas of limestone pavement by clearing scrub to reconnect fragmented habitat. Areas of hazel and blackthorn will be coppiced to further reconnect areas.
Removal of the scrub will allow more specialist, less competitive, species to in the pavement grykes including several nationally and locally scarce species such as angluar Soloman’s-seal, dark-red helleborine and rigid buckler fern.
We’ll replace the stiles with more accessible kissing gates, made stock-proof to prevent grazing livestock from using them. New signage will be installed at the entrances of the nature reserve to help visitors explore the area.
Funded by Holcim
Our completed nature reserve restoration projects:
At Nichols Moss Nature Reserve, near Witherslack, a large drainage ditch separated the raised bog from a grazed field, which was drying out the peat contained in the bog, as well peat beneath the surface of the field.
The aim of this project was to prevent water loss from the bog and restore the field to lag fen habitat, reducing carbon loss and creating conditions where peat can begin to form, sequestering carbon from the atmosphere, increasing biodiversity and reducing flood risk in the surrounding area.
Find out more about this restoration project here
Burns Beck Moss
This project restored Burns Beck Moss Nature Reserve to a healthy functioning bog and a wonderful place for people to visit and experience.
The reserve has been damaged through peat cutting and attempts to drain the site, by straightening and deepening the beck and later digging a network of drains in preparation for tree planting. The tree planting was never carried out.
Following restoration works, the beck and moss behave in a more natural way, with the river course and hydrology restored, raised water levels and restored peat hydrology. The reserve is protected from trampling underfoot by the newly installed boardwalk.
Through information panels, adults and children have the opportunity to learn about this special place and the rich wildlife found here.
Funded by National Highways through the Network for Nature programme.
The Victoria Wood Tree Nursery
Gardens at our main office at Plumgarths are home to our first community tree growing site and named in memory of Victoria Wood to reflect her love of this special part of the world.
This nursery was created to be as accessible as possible, with raised planters, a greenhouse and a potting shed for volunteers to work year-round. Trees grown at the nursery will be planted at Skiddaw Forest Nature Reserve to create a new Atlantic rainforest.
We have also been able to identify a corner of Cold Springs Community Nature Reserve that will be developed as our community tree growing area.
Funded by the Victoria Wood Foundation
