We aren’t running any specific fundraising campaigns at the moment as we want focus to be on our communities and those most in need during this difficult time.
Ways to Support The Lake District
Category: Charity
Help us to fix the Herdwick Sheep Breeders Association Marquee
Following storm damage to a set of marquees that were erected for Loweswater Show on 1 September 2019 The storm caused £10,000 of damage, Herdwick Sheep Breeders Association wish to raise £1,750 to cover half the £2500 excess on their marquee insurance policy.
We granted of £1750 to them via our small grants fund and we are now helping HSBA with this crowdfunder to raise the remaining £1,750.
If this Crowdfunder is successful, HSBA will be in a position to continue supplying the marquees that are a fundamental necessity for such events.
The following organisations make use of their facilities:
Millom & Broughton Agricultural Show
Eskdale Show
Gosforth Show
Wasdale Head Show
Egremont Crab Fair
Ennerdale Show
Loweswater Show
Cockermouth Show
Keswick Show
Threlkeld Sheep Doig Trials
Buttermere Show
Borrowdale Show
Without the marquees some of these show may not be able to run.
Green Business Network
The Lake District Foundation cares about our environment – and we know that our supporters do too. With our Green Business Network we want to work together. To share tips and experience of cost effective ways to make your business greener.
If you want to know more about `green’ business network opportunities, or share your experiences and ideas then come along to one of our breakfast meetings. More details and how to book your place can be found here. If you would like to see the Top 10 tips for easy green business solutions, click here.
A-ha Distribution supports LDF
The Lake District Foundation is pleased to welcome A-ha Distribution to its growing number of business supporters.
A-ha Distribution are a local company with a huge love of the area we work and live in. So much of our work is about distributing information about the fabulous things to see and do in Cumbria and the Lake District. We know the landscape, heritage and wildlife are a huge part of why our customers need us. It makes sense that we want to be part of the business community that protects it. We are pleased to support The Lake District Foundation and no doubt you will see their leaflets in our distribution stands so much more now.
There is another reason we want to support the work done by The Lake District Foundation. We are big supporters of our community too. In the last year we have distributed over 27 000 child focussed maps with activity booklets to the children in Cumbria. We want this precious natural outdoor playground to be in a condition our children can benefit from for years to come.
Elaine Rengers – Director
A warm welcome to our new supporter
A very warm welcome to Matson Ground Estate Company. The newest addition to our business supporter community.
Comprising two working farms, several holiday cottages, residential lets and commercial units, all situated in some of the most breathtaking scenery the Lake District has to offer, Matson Ground Estate Company is looking forward to working with the Lake District Foundation and its supporters.
Rachel Thomas, MD says `We are acutely aware that as the number of visitors to this beautiful part of the country increases, so does the need to protect and preserve what we are lucky enough to have on our doorstep. Which is why we have chosen to support the Lake District Foundation.
This represents a fantastic opportunity to reduce any negative impact on the local environment, while at the same time promoting the Lake District as a world-class visitor destination.’
Funding for local projects 2019
The Lake District Foundation has revealed the nine projects which will receive funds from the latest round of grant funding. The successful projects from across Cumbria each will receive between £1,000 and £2,500.
In total 27 applications were received, making it a difficult task to choose which projects should benefit from funding.
Sarah Swindley, CEO Lake District Foundation said
`Its fantastic to see the local conservation work carried out across the county. Often, this is mainly led by volunteers doing amazing things in their free time. Our natural world would be much poorer without them, and we are happy to support where we can. It’s thanks to our work with local tourism businesses and visitors that we are able to generate this funding, and we would like to thank them for their ongoing support.’
The nine chosen projects were each awarded funding based on criteria including links to the environment, wildlife and cultural heritage. They are:
`Growing Well’ School children will be invited to visit their site at Sizergh Farm to learn how food is grown, what it needs to grow, get hands on in an activity, and discover other wildlife, inspiring future generations to get involved in horticulture and the natural world.
`Bee Hide’ Project (Heron Hill School) will provide a safe, inclusive, viewing area for the children and the wider community to enjoy and learn about bee keeping and the importance of bees in our ecosystem.
The Herdwick Sheep Breeder’s Society was awarded funding for the repair of their marquee which suffered storm damage. This is vital to the future of our local shows and links strongly to our World Heritage status.
Wildlife and Heritage Garden (Calderbridge and Ponsonby Communities) aims to rejuvenate the community areas to attract more wildlife and in so doing bring together different generations.
Swifts in the Community (SITC) have an army of volunteers who monitor the numbers of nesting swifts, which are in decline due to modern building design. They also give lots of local advice about how best to support these world travellers.
Staveley Woodlands (Cumbria Wildlife Trust) is a recently extended nature reserve. The project will involve walling off a section of land, hedging and the installation of bird and bat boxes, as well as creating a trail guide and way markers to guide people around the reserve.
`Space Invaders’ (South Cumbria River’s Trust) This is an ongoing project aimed at eradicating Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) such as Himalayan Balsam, and allowing native wildlife to thrive.
`Farming with Nature’ (Ullswater Catchment CIC) will see 40 wooden cages, each planted on farmland with one oak tree and surrounded by other scrub plants, providing habitat for other wildlife. The trees will help to improve soil structure and aid flood management.
`Coniston Wildflower Meadow’ (Coniston Parish Council) will see the community space in the centre of the village turned into a beautiful wildflower meadow.
Help inspire others to protect and access the outdoors when you visit Kendal Mountain Festival
Kendal Mountain Festival and The Lake District Foundation are excited to announce an innovative partnership to raise funds for conservation. Festival goers are able to donate to a new fund hosted by the Foundation, supporting the joint mission to look after our natural world and inspire others to share the many benefits of life outdoors.
Donations will be split between World Land Trust, local community conservation projects and projects involving young people. With the Festival attracting over 16,000 visitors in 2018 the potential to make a real difference is enormous.
Sarah Swindley CEO of the LDF says:
“We hope to work with the team and supporters of the Festival for the long term, developing a fund that can achieve transformational change, throughout the region and beyond. We know that our values align and we have a shared passion for inspiring others to protect and experience the wonder of the natural world. The Lake District has always been a catalyst for change and progress in outdoor adventure and we think that there are many opportunities for this partnership to develop.
Jacqui Scott, CEO of the Kendal Mountain Festival says:
“We are delighted to align the Festival with the Lake District Foundation. The generation of these funds will provide us with new opportunities to engage with new conservation projects whilst inspiring young people; who we believe have the intuition, creativity and bravery to find solutions to protect the environment. We know that our audience are passionate about protecting mountain landscapes and enabling others to experience their beauty and will be delighted to support this partnership and help with the generation of funds to care for these precious environments.”