Westmorland Dales Landscape Partnership


The Westmorland Dales Landscape Partnership Scheme finished in early 2024 with projects successfully delivered by a wide range of project partners, community groups and individuals. Over the coming months, we’ll be updating this site to highlight what’s been achieved, so please keep checking back.

Welcome …

… to the Westmorland Dales website.

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:

  • Reveal the area’s hidden heritage.
  • Conserve what makes the area special.
  • Engage people in enjoying and benefitting from their heritage.
  • Sustain the benefits of the scheme in the long-term.

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

The Westmorland Dales is a beautiful area of Cumbria lying to the north of the Howgill Fells and located 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)

Contact information

Friends of the Lake District
Murley Moss, Oxenholme Road, Kendal, Cumbria LA9 7SS
Main Telephone:  01539 720788
 Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority
Yoredale, Bainbridge, Leyburn, North Yorkshire DL8 3EL
Main Telephone:  01969 652300

Countryside Worker Apprentice Vacancies

COUNTRYSIDE WORKER APPRENTICE

  • 18 month Apprenticeship
  • Full-time – 37 hours
  • £4.50 per hour for year 1.  Rising to the national minimum wage in the second year
  • This apprenticeship is based at our office in Tebay

We are looking for self-motivated individuals with a strong interest in conservation to work in the beautiful landscape of the Westmorland Dales.  We have four apprenticeship opportunities, ideal for enthusiastic individuals who would like to gain the skills necessary for a countryside career in land management or wildlife conservation.  

The ‘Skills for the Future’ project is part of the Westmorland Dales Landscape Partnership Scheme, a programme grant-funded through the National Lottery Heritage Fund; which aims to reveal, conserve and celebrate the hidden heritage of the area that became part of the extended Yorkshire Dales National Park in 2016. 

Five great reasons to apply for an apprenticeship with the Westmorland Dales Landscape Partnership:

  1. You will be part of a team, training alongside other apprentices
  2. You will learn countryside skills from a highly skilled supervisor
  3. You will obtain nationally recognised qualifications
  4. You will improve your job prospects and employability
  5. You will be helping to safeguard a nationally important landscape 

Watch our short film documenting the experiences of previous apprentices, Abbi, Billy, Rebekah and Sarah. They've just completed their apprenticeships earning themselves level two countryside worker qualifications and achieving qualifications in skills such as chainsaw, quad bike, strimmer and first aid. This has been alongside work based experience on a wide range of projects; everything from fencing to archaeological surveys and just about everything in between.The apprenticeship provides a learning opportunity for someone seeking their first paid position within conservation. The Authority will provide a supported, tailored placement with learning and development opportunities.  You will need to demonstrate enthusiasm and commitment to conservation; willingness to learn and to work hard; a love of the outdoors and a real interest in the countryside and the National Park. 

The successful candidate will undertake a Countryside Worker (Level 2) Apprenticeship. 

  • Closing date for applications:  5pm on 27/06/21
  • It is anticipated that interviews will take place week commencing 19/07/21 
  • If you want an informal chat about this opportunity, please contact Belinda Lloyd on 07971 528776. 

Application forms are available on the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority website at www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/vacancies  .  They can also be obtained by e-mail from [email protected] or by telephoning 0300 456 0030. 

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