The Westmorland Dales Landscape Partnership Scheme ran from March 2019 to February 2024. Its vision was to unlock and reveal the hidden heritage of the Westmorland Dales, enabling more people to connect with, enjoy and benefit from this inspirational landscape.
Download the Westmorland Dales Landscape Partnership Scheme Summary Report for an overview of the Scheme's successes.
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The Westmorland Dales Landscape Partnership Scheme aimed to unlock and reveal the hidden heritage of the Westmorland Dales, enabling more people to connect with, enjoy and benefit from this inspirational landscape. Specifically, its objectives were to:
This was achieved through a programme of projects developed and delivered through the Westmorland Dales Landscape Partnership, led by Friends of the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, and mainly funded through the National Lottery Heritage Fund. It ran over a five-year period from March 2019 to February 2024.
Here you can discover what makes the area so special, find out about the scheme’s projects, and view and download resources produced.
The Westmorland Dales is a beautiful area of Cumbria lying north of the Howgill Fells and within the north-west corner of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. It stretches from Tebay in the south-west to Kirkby Stephen in the east and to Maulds Meaburn in the north-west. At its heart are the limestone fells above Orton and Asby, rich in natural and cultural heritage, and with magnificent views to the Pennines, the Howgills and the Lakeland fells. It drains into the Lune river catchment to the south and the Eden river catchment to the north. Relatively overlooked compared with its better-known neighbours, our projects have aimed to reveal its heritage for more to enjoy without detracting from its unique qualities. (Click on map for larger image)
Six projects were delivered under the Natural Heritage Scheme, although inevitably there is considerable overlap with the other project categories.
Much of the area’s character and heritage is based on the area’s distinctive geology so this formed the basis of our project led by Cumbria GeoConservation. Four projects were focussed on habitats and wildlife. This included projects on rivers led by the Eden Rivers Trust and Lune Rivers Trust, whose catchments drain the whole of the Westmorland Dales; a project on the area’s wildflower meadows, verges and grasslands led by Cumbria Wildlife Trust; and a project on trees, woodlands and hedgerows led by the Woodland Trust. The final project, on sustaining farming in the area, so important to understanding its heritage, was led by the Farmer Network.
The project led by Cumbria GeoConservation involved the designation of new local geological sites and the review of existing sites; their interpretation through a range of factsheets, leaflets, panels, websites and a book; and their enjoyment through walks, talks and other events. Read more
Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s project focussed on the survey of existing sites; the restoration of suitable sites working with farmers, contractors and volunteers; and the engagement of people through training, events, new leaflets and films. Read more
The Woodland Trust worked with farmers, landowners and local tree groups to plant new woodlands: create new and restore old hedgerows; and to plant individual trees. Read more
Eden Rivers Trust’s project focussed on the Lyvennet, Scandal Beck and their tributaries, restoring river channels, improving habitats and introducing new natural flood management features, with major projects at Crake Trees and Bowber Head. Read more
The Farmer Network worked to improve the knowledge, skills and capacity of local farmers through workshops, training and testing, and skills development for young farmers; and to promote understanding of farming in the wider public through events. Read more
Lune Rivers Trust undertook surveys in the tributaries of the upper Lune for salmon, trout, sea trout and other river species, including native crayfish to understand the prevalence of key species in the area. Read more