Volunteers with Sustainable Keswick have helped establish a wildlife and carbon capture area in a previously unused marshy area of the town’s Fitz Park.
In the spring of 2021, a successful bid was made by Cllr Sally Lansbury and the late Elizabeth Barraclough, both members of Sustainable Keswick, to create the recreational area on land below the BMX track.
Funding was initially provided by Cumbria County Council’s environment fund as part of a project which includes meadow creation and establishing a piece of woodland on land made available by Keswick’s Fitz Park Trust.
The objective was to create a pleasant recreational space, absorb carbon emissions, retain water and improve biodiversity. As part of the project, the Woodland Trust and People’s Postcode Lottery have funded many of the trees, hedging plants and given advice.
Collectively, Sustainable Keswick volunteers have contributed around 600 hours of labour over the life of the project so far.
A newly laid path has also been created, linking the Crosthwaite Road car park with the main Fitz Park path. A significant contribution towards this path was made by
Keswick mayor Steve Harwood from his recent fundraising. It is hoped that this will provide an additional walk and running track for Keswick residents.
Some spring planting will take place around the edges of this path to soften the edges. The latest planting saw 18 volunteers turn out.
“I was completely bowled over by the number of volunteers who turned out on a cold and frosty Sunday,” said Cllr Lansbury. “Many hands make light work and within a couple of hours – assisted with mince pies and mulled wine – we got around 400 mixed hedging whips planted.
“It was a really cold day, but the ground was still workable and with a clear blue sky and white mountains around us, it was a truly beautiful morning. Elizabeth’s Woodland has become a great example of the added value of effective partnership work.”
Pete Leeson, partnership manager of the Woodland Trust, said: “The Woodland Trust has been helping people plant trees and create woodland for nearly 50 years. Now, with ever increasing knowledge of climate change and biodiversity loss, the act of establishing a native hedgerow becomes even more important – we need both old and young trees and native hedgerows throughout our landscape.
“Elizabeth’s Woodland is a perfect location where we can support soil health and wildlife – establishing a wide variety of trees which support all sorts of microbiology and fungi below ground, and insects, birds and small mammals above ground.”
There will be another tree planting event at Greta Bank Farm today, starting at 10am.
