Bring your children along to Staveley Woodlands and discover the new nature trail that’s recently opened at our stunning woodland nature reserve.

The Paws and Claws quest starts at the bottom of Craggy Wood: there are 10 animals to find along the path, with 10 rhyming clues before each one, such as “I’m small, quick and russet red, with a bushy tail and tufty ears on my head”.

There are raised animal tracks to look out for and Feature Creature panels to spot, where young visitors can find out fascinating facts about some of our much-loved species, such as tawny owl and hedgehog. There’s also a Curiosity Cabinet with collected materials from the woods, to inspire wild play, along with chalk to note any fun sightings on the board, and some shelves of labelled finds.

The route is adventurous, with short climbs and steep hills and there’s an opportunity for den-building along the route. The trail is just under a kilometre and suitable for keen adventurers who are good on their feet.

Danni Metcalfe, Staveley Woodlands Officer at Cumbria Wildlife Trust said:

“We’re so pleased to have completed our fun new Paws and Claws activity for families and look forward to seeing you at Staveley Woodlands over the summer holidays! The nature trail is a great way to help our younger visitors explore the woodlands and find out about the amazing animals that call these woods their home.

“We’re very grateful to the SUEZ Communities Fund, which is managed by GrantScape through the Landfill Communities Fund. Thanks to them, in addition to the nature trail, we’ve put up new information boards which tell the story of the rare temperate rainforest found in the woodlands. They also explain how the local community got together a few years ago to save Craggy Wood (part of Staveley Woodlands) and continue to support it with tree planting. We’ve also put up new signs, repaired boardwalks and installed a new bridge, to finish the new footpath connection between all the woodlands. This is already a very popular woodland location for families and walkers alike and we hope these new improvements this summer will make their visits even more enjoyable!”

Liz Payne, Grant Director at GrantScape, said:

"We're delighted to have supported Cumbria Wildlife Trust in creating these fantastic new facilities at Staveley Woodlands. Projects like this help people of all ages connect with nature, encouraging families to explore, learn and enjoy the outdoors together. It's especially rewarding to see funding also supporting improvements that protect and celebrate this unique temperate rainforest, ensuring more people can experience and appreciate this special place for years to come."

Staveley Woodlands are part of the Lake District's remaining fragments of mossy, magical temperate rainforest. A number of woodlands come together to form the nature reserve. The most recent, Craggy Wood, was bought in partnership with the local community in 2020.

There's currently a road closure in place near the nature reserve until April 2027. You can still access the reserve from the Craggy Wood gate at what3words///smuggled.overcomes.crumble.