COMMUNITY FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN SUCCESS

FOR KESWICK TO THRELKELD RAILWAY TRAIL

The Lake District Foundation, the local conservation charity, are celebrating after the recent opening of the much-loved Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Trail has proven a hit.

The trail reopened due to a successful six-month (K2T) community fundraising campaign in 2018 to help reinstate the path.

The 10km return route from Keswick to Threlkeld has been well used over the Christmas and New Year break, welcoming runners, cyclists, walkers and multi-users .

The reopening was made possible by the donations received during the campaign from individuals, local business and support from Highways England, the European Structural and Investment Funds and the Local Enterprise Partnership, the new, accessible route is opened on Saturday 5^th December 2020, it was on the 5^th anniversary of Storm Desmond.

Following the floods in December 2015, the Keswick to Threlkeld Railway path suffered serious damage. Two of the old railway bridges that crossed the River Greta and around 200 metres of the path surface were washed away, and Rawsome Bridge was left at risk of collapse.

Sarah Swindley, the Lake District Foundation’s CEO, said: “The community fundraising campaign raised an incredible £130,000. We were thrilled to have had so much support from the local community, businesses, residents, visitors and organisations; everyone played their part to make it happen. We would like to say a huge thank-you to everyone who donated during the campaign. We are looking forward to the opening this Saturday and for everyone to enjoy the new path for years to come.”

Local businesses boosted the fundraising campaign considerably including a generous donation from HF Holidays. One of their country houses, Derwent Bank, is situated close to the path where several walking routes from the house were are affected by the damage caused by Storm Desmond. HF Holidays donated £20,000 to the campaign.

Hannah Garcia, HF Holidays, said: “HF Holidays was delighted to be able to contribute the £20,000 donation from the HF Pathways Fund to the Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Path Restoration, and be able to support the valuable work that has taken place; enabling our guests and walking community to continue to enjoy the fantastic routes and experiences this location offers.”

The fundraising campaign saw donation boxes and promotional materials displayed in 72 local businesses and many of these carried out additional fundraising events including quiz nights, selling special products, and taking part in the K2T 5k challenge.

Community organisations also got involved, making donations and holding events, including a railway path walk by Braithwaite School which raised over £300 and a national fell running event hosted by Keswick Athletic Club which raised £1,250. On midsummers day, with the support of Keswick Scouts, Keswick Anglers, Keswick Lions, Keswick Town Council and the Love the Lakes shop, a duck race raised a further £1,300 for the campaign.

As part of the campaign, The Lake District Foundation hosted its first ever charity auction night and raised over £8,600 from 40 lots. Local businesses and celebrities donated fantastic prizes including a day on the Lake District Fells with Alan Hinkes OBE. The Lodore Falls Hotel & Spa kindly donated the venue, canapes, reception drinks and £20 per booking to the campaign.

Members of the public donated online, by cash, cheque, or Text Giving throughout the campaign and 6 local residents set up sponsored events of their own. Adam Bazire, owner of the Threlkeld Coffee Shop, has raised over £2,300 to date on his challenge to walk the full route of the old railway from Penrith station to the former Keswick station.

For further information about the trail visit the Lake District National Park website http://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk

Orrest Head Fundraising Campaign Raises £38,000

A local conservation charity, the Lake District Foundation and the Lake District National Park are celebrating raising over £38,000 for the Orrest Head accessibility improvement project.

The fundraising campaign launched last autumn aims is create an alternative path to the summit of Orrest Head making it suitable for people with limited mobility, including people with powered-wheelchairs and families with pushchairs to see this spectacular viewpoint.

Donations for the project have been building over the last year but this week the fundraising campaign was successful in securing £5,000 from the TransPennine Express Transform Grants Fund: a community fund supporting projects that tackle youth unemployment, promote social inclusion and improve the environment.

Steve Tonkin, Lake District Foundation, said: “We are over the moon with this award from the Transform Grants Fund. It’s helped reach over £38,000 mark! We have an ambitious target of raising £50,000 in total but know with the support and generous donations from visitors and locals we can do it. You can make a donation today on our website, lakedistrictfoundation.org.”

The Lake District Foundation is working alongside the Lake District National Park, Windermere Town Council and South Lakeland District Council to drive this fundraising campaign forward. The plan is to restore a section of Victorian carriage drive and create an accessible path to the viewpoint, improve the water drainage and restore the eroded summit landscape, replace the worn-out seating, provide more information about the area and the view. The project also hopes to provide an all-terrain Lake District Mobility scooter for people to borrow to get to the viewpoint.

Marian Jones, Area Ranger, Lake District National Park said: “Covid 19 has had an impact on our project plans so we are now aiming to complete the project by December 2021, but this depends having the necessary funding in place. This project aims to help more people enjoy and appreciate the view from Orrest Head by creating improved, sustainable access to the summit. It is a project about people – removing barriers, providing opportunity, increasing understanding and building relationships. Thank you for your support.”

You can make a donation on the Lake District Foundation website by visiting lakedistrictfoundation.org.

The Climbers Shop welcomes back customers safely

The Climbers Shop in Ambleside have opened their doors again and are excited to be back up and running. With over 100 years of retail heritage they are incredibly proud to offer a huge choice of clothing and equipment for climbers, mountaineers, hillwalkers and trail runners for use in the Lake District and beyond!

The Climbers Shop is one of the Foundation 150 business supporters who either fundraise for the charity or make a donation. They have reopened their doors again and looking forward to fundraising for the Foundation. Cathy, the shop Manager, tell us their story of reopening….

“It’s taken a little time to adapt to business unusual but our staff have been fully involved in how we re-open our shop as safely as we can. We are all loving being back at work again, welcoming customers old and new through our doors and catching up with friendly faces to see how everyone has fared during lockdown. One of our team made re-useable facemasks so staff have at least two each – if you look carefully you’ll see they have a walking boot lace for a strap which is certainly a lot more comfortable than elastic behind the ears!

Our re-opening has been phased so that we have been able to offer private appointments to customers who are concerned about coming into a busy shop environment but on our fully open days we regularly manage the number of customers in the shop at any one time in line with social distancing guidance. We also close for lunch for an hour so that our staff can take a proper break outside if they wish and to allow for extra cleaning throughout the day.

From the outset we put an enhanced cleaning regime into place which, along with hand sanitizers on entry, daily disinfectant sprays and quarantining clothing that has been tried on all adds up to making our shop environment as safe as we can make it.

It’s a continual learning curve for all of us as we all have to take responsibility for stopping the spread of Coronavirus but importantly, it has also created some great discussions among the management team about how we can use lockdown almost as a re-set for how we make daily decisions within our business and how they can impact the wellbeing of our staff, our customers, our local community, local environment and climate change as a whole. Last year was our 60^th anniversary and we used that as a launch pad to embark on a more sustainable path resulting in over £35,000 in donations to local charities such as Fix The Fells, Mountain Rescue and Community Action Nepal. By working with local charity Brathay to launch the Ambleside Trail 60 Ultra Marathon we succeeded in creating a fantastic event which not only showcased some of the best scenery the Lake District has to offer but also food from some of our fabulous local hotels and café’s.

This autumn we plan to build on the valuable information provided at The Lake District Foundations free Green Business Initiative by measuring the carbon footprint of our whole business and ensuring that whatever the winter season may bring, the health of our staff, customers and the environment remain at the heart of our business decisions since this Spring and summer have proved how intrinsically linked we all are.”

“We are very proud to support The Lake District Foundation by pledging 50p from every sale of our branded Nalgene Water Bottles so they can continue their vital work in protecting the beautiful, unique, fragile, World Heritage Site that we love.”
Cathy
The Climbers Shop

Cumbria Hedgerow Campaign Receives Donation Boost

A fundraising campaign aiming to raise £100,000 to create and reinstate 4,000 metres of native hedgerows in the Lake District has received a generous boost from the Woodland Trust.

The Lake District Foundation, Ullswater Catchment Management CIC, Food, Farming and Countryside Commission, Cumbria Wildlife Trust and Eden Rivers Trust launched the Real Hedge Fund in June 2020. The campaign aims to highlight the importance of hedgerows in the environment, the role within the cultural and natural heritage of the Lake District and to replant native hedgerows where these have been removed.

The Real Hedge Fund campaign has had a fantastic start with 180 metres of new native hedges donated by the Woodland Trust, which equates to a financial donation of £4,500.

Sarah Swindley, Lake District Foundation’s, CEO said, “We’ve hit the ground running thanks to the Woodland Trust. A huge thank-you to them for leading the way with a superb donation. We have an ambitious plan to plant 4,000 metres of native hedgerow, which costs around £25 per metre to manage and plant across Cumbria and we need your help. We want you to see nature as the best investment with the highest return!”

The local conservation charity, Lake District Foundation, is encouraging everyone to get involved by making a donation from £25 per metre. All information can be found at lakedistrictfoundation.org.

Julia Aglionby, University of Cumbria’s Professor in Practice, said: “Since the second world war we have lost over half our hedges, that is over 250,000 miles of hedges and many that are remaining are in poor condition. Hedges are great, they provide food for birds and insects, they are refuges for wildflowers and contain multiple species of trees and shrubs. As importantly they reduce flooding by slowing run off, store carbon and act as corridors for wildlife across more intensively managed farmland. From a farming perspective they are good too, providing sheltered boundaries which as a farmer I know are invaluable in stormy weather. The Real Hedge Fund campaign is an opportunity to make a difference and raise vital awareness, so we hope you get involved and support us. Thank-you.”

The charity will also be running a larger crowdfunding appeal later in the year through the national Big Give platform. It is the leading online match funder which brings charities, philanthropists and the public together to multiply their impact. The crowdfunding appeal will support the Real Hedge Fund campaign, the charity is looking for a small number of donors to help them kick start this appeal from businesses to individuals. If you would be interested in getting involved, get in touch with the Lake District Foundation either by email, [email protected] or telephone 01539 822622.

To make a donation to the Real Hedge Fund and for further information visit https://www.lakedistrictfoundation.org/the-real-hedge-fund/.

“We’ve hit the ground running thanks to the Woodland Trust. A huge thank-you to them for leading the way with a superb donation.“
Sarah Swindley, Lake District Foundation’s, CEO

Full steam ahead for the reconnection of the Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Path as funding is announced

Press release

5 December 2018

A £7.9 million funding package has been agreed to allow work to start on the final phase of reconnecting the Keswick to Threlkeld multi user trail which was severely damaged in Storm Desmond three years ago to the day (5 December).

Today is an important milestone in this complex project which has required significant work to get to this stage, and it is fitting that key funding partners and local users gathered to mark this development exactly three years since the fateful storm.

Funding has been approved so far from Highways England and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Additionally, community fundraising by the Lake District Foundation has resulted in a £130,000 donation all which will enable the project to go ahead.

Richard Leafe, Chief Executive of Lake District National Park said: “Storm Desmond caused unprecedented amounts of damage to communities, trails and bridges across the national park. This particular trail offers a great family-friendly, traffic-free route from town to village, it will be fully accessible to many people, such as cyclists, walkers and runners. It has taken some time but we have always been fully committed to making sure that it is reconnected for the benefit of all.

“Local fundraising has played a huge part in ensuring that this project can go ahead, demonstrating the strength of public feeling about this important trail. We’re thrilled that we now have the money in place to allow work to go ahead to complete the full reconnection of the Keswick to Threlkeld trail and make the route more resilient along the way.”

Construction contracts are currently out to tender and the trail construction partners will be announced in the near future. The aim is to start work in the New Year and have the route fully reopened within two years.

Highways England has committed a significant portion of the funding to allow this project to progress.

Bruce Parker, Highways England’s head of planning and development for the North West, said: “We’re delighted to be able to provide almost half the £7.9 million needed to restore and enhance the link between Keswick and Threlkeld, which was so badly damaged in Storm Desmond exactly three years ago and are looking forward to the re-construction work getting underway in the New Year.

“Highways England has set aside £250 million for projects like this focusing on supporting pedestrian, cyclist and equestrian users of the road network. This money along with other special funds – for example supporting growth and housing and environmental improvements – is enabling us to provide environmental, social and economic benefits to the people, communities and businesses who live and work alongside our strategic road network.”

Sarah Swindley, CEO, Lake District Foundation said: “We ran a fundraising initiative this year and were completely blown away by the generosity of the local community and visitors to the area. We look forward to seeing the work start and progress over the next two years.”

During Storm Desmond, on 5 December 2015, two bridges that cross the River Greta and around 200 metres of path were completely washed away during the worst floods the county has seen and Rawsome Bridge was also later closed to ensure public safety.

Since then, the Lake District National Park has been working with key partners from the public and voluntary sectors on a plan to fully reconnect the route. As part of this work, a value for money study was undertaken and concluded that the restoration of the route could bring back about £2 million a year to the local economy.

This next phase will ensure the entire route will be reconnected and can once again be enjoyed by the local community and visitors to the area.

Photo shows key partners gathered at Brundholme where work will start along with some of the locals who are looking forward to the trail being reconnected.

L- R Richard Leafe LDNPA, Jonathan Reade, Highways England, Sarah Swindley, Lake District Foundation, Brittany Mason from ERDF and Amos Doran, Keswick Bikes.

Find out more information on www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/keswickrailway

Lake District Foundation launches regular giving appeal

Lake District Foundation launches regular giving appeal

The Lake District Foundation (LDF) has launched a new campaign to boost the number of people who give to the charity on a regular basis.

By donating as little as £2.50 per month, those who sign up to become a regular supporter will directly contribute to funding vital projects aimed at caring for the Lake District and Cumbria’s natural environment and cultural heritage.

Recent examples of projects include fundraising to fix the paths on England’s highest mountain, Scafell Pike, the Haweswater Woodland project – where volunteers will plant 400 protected native trees on a carefully selected area of Mardale Common and earlier this year a fundraising campaign generate funds to support the reconnection of the old Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Path which was washed away by Storm Desmond in 2015.

Regular supporters will be directly supporting high-impact and evidence-based projects on the ground, ensuring the sustainability of our spectacular landscape, wildlife and cultural heritage.

Lake District Foundation Director Sarah Swindley says, “Regular income is of enormous benefit to charities, especially so for the Lake District Foundation. The money raised will enable our team to help fund projects that share our goals much more effectively. Forward planning is so important and having a regular income stream helps us to plan even further ahead. It doesn’t have to be a huge amount of money if people choose to donate. Any amount, no matter how big or small, is welcome. It all adds-up to help us look after this spectacular landscape, wildlife and cultural heritage for future generations to enjoy.”

As a token of gratitude to those who show their regular support, donors will be sent a

welcome pack including a Lake District Foundation tote bag, window sticker, as well as limited edition pin and woven patch badge – the latter of which has been produced by Keswick-based family business, Conquer Lake District.

The regular giving campaign was launched at the weekend’s Holker Hall Winter Market, where the team was joined by University of Cumbria volunteer students from the Ambleside campus, as well as the team from Lake District Pound (LD£).

You can sign-up by telephoning 01539 822 622, 9am-5pm on weekdays, download a paper form from the LDF website. Alternatively, people can sign up face to face at the Kendal Mountain Festival (November 15-18) or the Keswick Victorian Christmas Market (December 2). As an extra bonus, the first 100 people to sign-up will be entered into a free prize draw for a fell runner Jos Naylor-signed LD£ book.

Charity Auction Success for the Lake District Foundation

The Lake District Foundation are celebrating after hosting their first ever charity auction on Friday evening to raise funds for the Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Path reinstatement.

The evening was held at the Lodore Falls Hotel and raised over £4,000 from the 19 lots available on the night and still counting. There were over 90 guests who attended the evening from all over the UK, including special guests Alan Hinkes OBE, Ricky Lightfoot and Sean Conway.

Sarah Swindley, Director of the Lake District Foundation was thrilled with the fundraising event; she said

“We are absolutely delighted with how the evening went and how much support the Lake District Foundation has had, to make our first ever charity auction happen. We’d like to say a huge thank-you to everyone involved from the businesses and individuals who donated prizes through to those who attended and bid for items on the night. We are pleased the evening has helped generate funds for the Keswick to Threlkeld path and raise further awareness of the ongoing campaign.”

PFK Auctions, one of the oldest auction houses in the region, ran the bidding on the night. The most popular lots included a mountaineering day with Alan Hinkes, an adventure day with Sean Conway and a running experience with Ricky Lightfoot. The 3 bespoke bracelets made by Brian Fulton from Fulton Jewellers in Keswick, Alan Stones framed original lithograph and a collectors set of Lake District Pound notes also raised a significant amount on the evening.

For those who were unable to make the evening, there is still an opportunity to bid for special items online at www.32auctions.com/keswicktothrelkeld until 30^th June. The lots include a bespoke 70’s Herdy, a Fell Top Assessor for the Day experience, a VIP behind the scenes tour at Bremont HQ with luxury accommodation in Henley and even the chance to sponsor oaks trees with a plaque along the route of the Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Path.

The funds raised will go towards reconnecting the Keswick to Threlkeld railway path, some parts of which were severely damaged during the floods in 2015.

Two of the old railway bridges that crossed the River Greta were washed away and one bridge left at risk of collapse and around 200 metres of the path surface disappeared into the floodwaters.

In December 2017 the LDNPA were delighted to announce a major funding boost to the project – a £2.5 million grant from Highways England and a partnership with the Lake District Foundation to jointly fundraise the shortfall of around £3 million.

Major donations received for Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Path

The Lake District Foundation is thrilled to announce that it has received over £20,000 of donations for the Keswick to Threlkeld fundraising campaign over the last couple of weeks.

The donations have been made by The Keswick Enterprise Holding Charitable Trust, Keswick Town Council and Keswick Bridge Complex.

The Foundation was absolutely delighted to receive a cheque from The Keswick Enterprise Holding Charitable Trust who generously gave £15,000 in support of the fundraising efforts. The Chair of the Trust, John Harvey, heard about the campaign from the local news and was keen to back the fundraising drive. John said “I have enjoyed the beauty and pleasure of the railway path for many years when I visit Keswick. The scale of the fundraising challenge is daunting but I do hope our donation will bring the Lake District Foundation closer to the £300,000 target and hopefully encourage others who are yet to donate to do so”.

The good news continued with confirmation of £2,000 donation from Keswick Town Council, who recognise that this trail is an important part of the local visitor economy and community.

Similarly, £2,000 has been received from Keswick Bridge Complex. The contribution from Keswick Bridge Complex came from the Keswick Bridge Appeal, Robert Duncan, Manager explains “Since Storm Desmond hit we’ve asking our guests to help get the path back up and running by making a donation to the cause. We are so pleased to help with our contribution and looking forward to seeing the path fully connected soon”.

The Lake District Foundation celebrations continued after a successful fundraising weekend for the Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Path raising over £1,500. Hundreds took part in the special K2T Challenges set by the Foundation. The Lions and Rotary volunteers were out in force over the weekend leading on the street collections and took donations from successful 5km challengers.

The Lake District Foundation, formerly Nurture Lakeland, is the charity raising funds to protect and conserve the Lake District National Park. Sarah Swindley, Director, explains why the foundation is pleased to be supporting the Keswick to Threlkeld campaign, saying “We are delighted to be spear-heading the fundraising campaign, raising awareness and engaging visitors, locals and the business community to donate to the project. The foundation aim is to encourage those who visit the Lake District to help us to protect and give something back. The path, is hugely popular with locals and visitors to the Lake District alike, has been hugely missed since being extensively damaged in the storms of December 2015. It’s wonderful to see donations coming in from the community, businesses and visitors and we thank you all for your generous support”.

The Lake District Foundation have set up a number of ways for people to donate, either via their Just Giving Page, by texting ‘KTOT £10’ to 70070 or by cheque addressed to the Lake District Foundation. All donations are welcomed big and small as they all count to help reinstate the path. You can keep up to date with the campaign by visiting lakedistrictfoundation.org.

The funds raised will go towards reconnecting the Keswick to Threlkeld railway path, some parts of which were severely damaged during the floods in 2015.

Two of the old railway bridges that crossed the River Greta were washed away and one bridge left at risk of collapse and around 200 metres of the path surface disappeared into the floodwaters.

Outdoor Legends lead the charge to restore Lake District trail

A host of outdoor legends are throwing their weight behind a major charity event this June aimed at restoring a well-known Lake District trail decimated by Storm Desmond.

Climber Alan Hinkes, runner Ricky Lightfoot and adventurer Sean Conway are all offering ‘money can’t buy’ experiences as part of a charity auction being arranged by the Lake District Foundation next month, to raise vital funds for the Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Path.

The event on 8 June 2018 at the Lodore Falls Hotel in the Borrowdale Valley aims to help raise the £3m needed to reconnect the route for cyclists and walkers, after two old railway bridges and around 200 metres of path surface were washed away by the ravages of the weather in 2015.

Three unique outdoor experiences are among the prizes available for the highest bidders on the night:

A day on the Lake District Fells with Alan Hinkes, OBE, who is the first Briton to climb the world’s highest mountains, the fourteen 8,000m peaks.
A fell-running experience with Ricky Lightfoot, one of the top trail/mountain runners in the world. A former World Trail Running Champion from the Lake District, Ricky holds the record on several iconic races across the world including Mauritius, South Africa and the Scafell Pike.
Adventure day with Sean Conway, who is best known as the first and only man in history to cycle, swim and run the length of Britain. In 2016 he completed the world’s longest triathlon, a 4,200mile journey around the coast of Britain.

Sean Conway is also an official Ambassador for the Lake District Foundation. He says, “I love the Lake District and I really want to help people make the most of this awe-inspiring landscape. Restoring the Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Path to an accessible trail for walkers and cyclists is a vitally important cause, because we are bringing it back to life for future generations.”

Other prizes up for auction range from bespoke jewellery designed and made in the Lake District to two fantastic VIP garden tours, at the Royal Botanic Gardens of Edinburgh and the European Garden Heritage Network at Schloss Dyck in Germany.

Tickets for the event on 8 June available online: they are £50 per person or you can take a table of 12.

Since Storm Desmond in 2015, around half of the Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Path Multi User Trail (MUT) has been out of action, impacting on thousands of local people and visitors who enjoy the route every year. The Lake District National Park (LDNP) prioritised reconnecting this route, however it is a complex, major project that required significant work. Through 2016-17 LDNP secured as much alternative access for users as possible and carried out detailed design and consent work, funded by Highways England.

In December 2017, LDNP announced a major funding boost and significant step forward, thanks to a £2.5 million grant from Highways England and a partnership with the Lake District Foundation (formerly Nurture Lakeland) to jointly fundraise the balance of around £3m. To help us reconnect this route, donate today by visiting lakedistrictfoundation.org/keswick-to-threlkeld, or text ‘KTOT18 £5’, or ‘KTOT18 £10’, to 70070.

For more information about the auction or to donate an experience, contact Caroline Hoppé, at the Lake District Foundation on [email protected] / 01539 822622.

Booming Business Support for the Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Path

Keswick and Lake District businesses are coming out in force to support the Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Path reconnection.

Over 50 local Keswick businesses from shops, cafes, attractions, hotels and camp sites have already signed up as fundraising campaign partners and more are coming on board every day. They are armed with donation boxes, posters and flyers all at the main reception desks and check outs to raise awareness and encourage donations from visitors and locals.

Promoting the campaign via local businesses online channels is crucial too to help spread the word and unlock further donations. Keswick Tourism Association has done exactly that, supporting with enewsletters to visitors, website information and social media sharing.

Many businesses are planning additional fundraising activities as well, including local pet shop, Podgy Paws, working with takeaway café Cake & Salad are holding the Big Community Quiz on the 13 April, 7pm in the Back Bar in Keswick. Whilst both The George on a Tuesday night and The Packhorse on a Wednesday night are currently holding their weekly quizzes in aid of the fundraising. The Threlkeld Village Hall will be holding a benefit Gig on 14 April, 8pm and the Lodore Falls Hotel is working with the Lake District Foundation on a charity auction evening on 8 June.

The K2T Challenge has picked up pace with local businesses getting behind the challenge and promoting via social media, including local mountaineering company, ’More than Mountains’, which completed the challenge on skis during the snow over the last couple of weeks.

Businesses are also digging deep, providing raffle prizes and giving direct donations. We’ve already received donations from Threlkeld Parish Council and Keswick Rotary earlier this month and we are delighted to have received £300 from Sally’s Cottages in the last week.

Heather Askew, Fundraiser for the Lake District Foundation, is absolutely delighted with the business support so far but wants to encourage more businesses to get involved. Heather said “We are thrilled with all the businesses backing the fundraising campaign and want to say a massive thank you in advance for your support. We’ve also launched a fundraising toolkit to make it easier to get involved: head to the Lake District Foundation website and you can download your own poster, leaflets and see further ideas on fundraising initiatives”.

The funds raised will go towards reconnecting the Keswick to Threlkeld railway path, some parts of which were severely damaged during the floods in 2015.

Two of the old railway bridges that crossed the River Greta were washed away, one bridge was left at risk of collapse and around 200 metres of the path surface disappeared into the floodwaters.

Local Support for Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Path Fundraising

Local support is building for the Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Path Fundraising with two large donations announced this week.

At their February Meeting Threlkeld Parish Council agreed to donate £1,000 to the fundraising campaign to help reconnect this popular route between Keswick and Threlkeld.

This donation was swiftly followed by a donation from Keswick Rotary and Keswick Lions. £1,000 from the Flood Fund set up jointly by Keswick Rotary and Keswick Lions following the devastating effects of Storm Desmond in December 2015.

The donations will go towards reconnecting the Keswick to Threlkeld railway path, some parts of which were severely damaged during the floods in 2015. Two of the old railway bridges that crossed the River Greta were washed away and one bridge left at risk of collapse and around 200 metres of the path surface disappeared into the floodwaters.

Heather Askew, Fundraiser for the Lake District Foundation said “These donations from local organisations show the strong level of support for this much-loved route. We hope that these two donations will be the first of many from local sources. We have started working with a wide range of businesses and community groups on different ways to raise this money, including some exciting events coming up.”

If you would like to get involved with the fundraising for the Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Path you can contact Heather at [email protected].

Keswick to Threlkeld Fundraising Toolkit

Help us spread the word about raising funds for the reconnection of the Keswick to Threlkeld railway path. We need to raise £5.4m to make the repairs happen and need your help.

The Toolkit

Download our toolkit and promote in your business today:

What’s it all about

The railway path, in the UNESCO World Heritage Site, was a beautiful traffic free, tree-clad, four mile route which winded through Greta Gorge along the old track bed of the Cockermouth, Keswick and Penrith railway.

Storm Desmond, caused flooding damage across the Lake District, devastated this well loved route between Keswick and Threlkeld, destroying two bridges and damaging a third.

Get involved

There’s lots of ways you can help support the fundraising campaign which works for your business, take your pick:

Campaign partner – promote the toolkit via your business and marketing channels. Would you like a donation box? Get in touch with our Fundraising Manager Heather Askew who will drop one off for you email [email protected] or call 01539 822622
Keswick to Threlkeld Challenge – take part in the 5km challenge as an individual or business, complete 5km, donate £5, take a picture or video, nominate 5 people to get involved and share via social using #K2TChallenge. More details on our K2T Challenge page here
Donate – all donations are welcome big or small it all helps reach our goal. You can donate online via our Just Giving page or write a cheque payable to Lake District Foundation (mark the back K2T) and post to: Lake District Foundation, Murley Moss, Oxenholme Road, Kendal, Cumbria LA9 7RL
Fundraise – why not put on your own fundraising event or take on a challenge to raise funds? Link up with our Just Giving website
Charity Auction – 8th June Lodore Falls Hotel, Keswick. Can you offer a prize? Like to sponsor the event? Buy a table? Get in touch with Caroline Hoppe Campaign & Events Manager for more details [email protected]
Duck Race – more details coming soon!
Have you got a big idea? All ideas are welcomed so please get in touch if you have thoughts and suggestions of how we can make this fundraising happen