Cumbria Wildlife Trust yesterday launched a major £1.25m public appeal to help buy 3,000 acres of Skiddaw Forest and the summit of the mountain to create England’s highest nature reserve.
The conservation charity aims to restore a huge (620 acres), lost area of Atlantic rainforest as part of its 100-year vision for bringing back wildlife to the lower slopes of what is the third tallest mountain in England at 3,054ft (931m). Other important habitats will also be restored including wildflower grassland, heather moorland and almost 1,000 acres of peat bogs (a huge natural carbon store).
Thanks to a partnership with Aviva, £5m has already been raised and additional support has been secured from charitable funders towards the asking price. Now the charity needs to raise the final £1.25m and is appealing to the public to secure the purchase.
Joe Murphy, head of reserves with CWT, said this would be a 100-year vision to recreate the woodland and montane habitats that are missing through the Lake District as well as restoring heathland and very large areas of blanket bog and deep peat that have been cut over and drained in the past.
He said that a fifth of the area would be planted with trees adding: “What we are hoping to do is to try to recreate that Atlantic rainforest, that very wet upland woodland, that would have been there in the past – the kind of woodland that you get fragments of on the western seaboard from Cornwall to Scotland.
“We want to recreate the full range of habitats for woodland up to the summit from a dwarf shrub layer to grass heath on the summit. We are not trying to establish trees on Skiddaw summit.”
It is hoped the work will attract wildlife back into the area including red squirrels. He said that most of the woodland bird species are missing and the work would entice upland birds that can be found in areas where there are scattered trees and shrubs such as black grouse.
“I am sure that people will not notice a difference for a long,long time,” said Mr Murphy. “It’s an all open access area that is well used and has some well used bridleways. The Cumbria Way and route for the Bob Graham Round runs through it. There will be no restrictions and no problem with access.”
Stephen Trotter, chief executive officer, of Cumbria Wildlife Trust said it was a unique and exciting opportunity to create England’s highest nature reserve and, working with farmers and the local community, there is an urgent need to put more wildlife back into a much-loved and spectacular part of Cumbria.
“We’re extremely grateful to Aviva and other donors for the contributions already made towards the purchase of Skiddaw Forest,” he said. “Now we’re asking the public to give whatever they can to help us secure this site and to bring more nature to this very special place.
“Skiddaw Forest offers a unique opportunity for wildlife and climate resilience at a major scale in the Lake District National Park. We have to reverse the widely-reported decline of nature in national parks to help address the impacts of the climate emergency and the wider wildlife crisis.”
Two public events for anyone who wants to find out more about the Skiddaw Forest project have been organised.
One of them is a drop-in information evening at Keswick Museum on Tuesday September 17, from 5pm to 8pm, while an online event will run on Tuesday September 24, from 6.30pm to 7.30pm at www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk.
Open public access to the popular fell and its summit will be secured. Cumbria Wildlife Trust is not disclosing who currently owns the land as they wish to remain anonymous.
Claudine Blamey, chief sustainability officer for Aviva, said: “We’re delighted to see Skiddaw chosen as the latest site in our partnership with the wildlife trusts, creating England’s highest nature reserve in such an iconic location.
“Restoring temperate rainforest, peatlands and other habitats on Skiddaw will help the Lake District become more climate ready and provide communities and visitors the opportunity to experience the wonder of British rainforests for years to come.”
Mountaineer Sir Chris Bonington said: “As a lover of the Lake District fells, and a keen advocate for the environment and biodiversity, I can’t think of a better organisation to manage Skiddaw Forest than Cumbria Wildlife Trust. Their tireless work has really helped to put wildlife into the consciousness of the public and put nature back onto the map.”
Writer and television presenter Julia Bradbury said: “This is an amazing opportunity for nature recovery on such a large scale. I’m delighted Cumbria Wildlife Trust can begin restoring precious montane habitats on this iconic Lakeland fell which is still close to my heart in so many ways. Our natural world needs a lot of help and it’s visions like this that can make a tremendous difference. Let’s help keep these wild spaces protected for generations to come.”
Anyone who would like to help secure the future of Skiddaw Forest for nature, should visit: www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk/donate/skiddaw or call Cumbria Wildlife Trust on 01539 816300.
