In 2001 ospreys made a momentous return to the Lake District, after being extinct in England for decades. The ospreys now return from Africa to their nest near Bassenthwaite Lake each spring and more than 19 chicks have fledged since they returned. The visitor viewpoints at Dodd Wood are great locations for watching the birds […]

The red squirrel is our only native British squirrel but is at serious risk of extinction if population numbers continue to decline. The main cause of this decline is competition with the American grey squirrel, an introduced species which is larger than the red and better able to survive harsh weather and occasional food shortages. […]

Barkbooth Lot Nature Reserve is situated near the head of the Winster Valley and covers 27 ha of diverse habitat, including rough fell land, oak woodland, meadow and tarns. Staff have worked to repair walls and fences and add gates so that livestock and deer are kept out of some areas to protect the oak […]

The John Muir Award encourages people of all backgrounds to connect with, enjoy and care for wild places through a structured yet adaptable scheme. It encourages awareness and responsibility for the natural environment, in a spirit of fun, adventure and exploration. The Award is the main engagement initiative of the John Muir Trust. You can find […]

Dubwath Silver Meadows is a new nature reserve which has been created as part of the Heritage Lottery funded Bassenthwaite Reflections programme. This seven hectares wetland site was once part of Bassenthwaite Lake and is now home to a range of special wetland flora and fauna. There are access-for-all paths and boardwalks which take you […]

South Cumbria Rivers Trust works to protect and conserve the aquatic environments of South Cumbria. In order to achieve this they provide a local education programme aimed at giving the both the local population and visitors an appreciation of our waters and an improved environmental awareness ‘Experience the River’ days give children from local schools […]

It is great to know that we have our first woman, Sarah Anderson, who works with one of the four teams of upland path workers, working on fell paths throughout the Central, Eastern, Northern and Western lakes for the National Trust. From March to November, the teams work full-time on the fells, interspersing project work […]

The Lake District’s landscape is a patchwork of habitats. Our meadows and peatlands add to the diversity of plants and wildlife we find here, but need our help to be restored back to their former glory. Cumbria Wildlife Trust works with farmers and small holders to enhance, restore and manage flower-rich hay meadows in the […]

Living Seas. What picture does the phrase conjure up? A rocky reef bursting with brightly coloured fish, corals and sponges? A boat trip in the company of leaping dolphins and playful seals? Fishermen hauling nets that are brimful of big, tasty fish? Living Seas are all these things and more. But the UK’s seas are […]

Our Small Grants Fund allows us to give grants of up to £1,000 to local community groups and organisations for small scale projects which make a difference to local communities. These sorts of projects often otherwise struggle to find funding. We have supported numerous small projects over the years. Here are some examples: Windermere and […]

Founded in 1994 and becoming a registered charity in 2008, Penrith & District Red Squirrel Group (P&DRSG) are committed to preserving native red squirrels in their natural environment by promoting the preservation of the red squirrel population within Penrith & District and their protection from extinction in the wild. The P&DRSG project is a conservation […]

The Eden Invasive Species Project aims to protect the river Eden and its tributaries against the invasion of non-native plants and animals. This requires the management of invasive species already present, whilst preventing the introduction of new species. The project involves Eden Rivers Trust Staff and volunteers from the Eden valley and beyond. Invasive species […]

In December 2015, we launched the Ullswater Environment Recovery Fund in partnership with the Ullswater Association. In the aftermath of the floods, many residents and businesses in Ullswater were contacted by members of the public who wanted to help to support the recovery of the natural environment. The Ullswater economy is highly dependent on tourism […]

Warton Crag nature reserve is part of the Arnside and Silverdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and overlooks Morecambe Bay in Lancashire. The reserve has a rich variety of habitats including areas of limestone pavement and ledges, with mixed woodland, limestone grassland and scrub. Warton Crag is extremely important nationally because it is home to […]

From 2015 – 2018 the Lake District Foundation hosted a website called “Adopt a Stone”. Donors could leave a message on a virtual stone along Hadrian’s Wall in exchange for a one-off or recurring donation. Funds raised were distributed to projects that delivered or complemented the objectives of the Hadrian’s Wall World Heritage Status and Trail […]