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Friends of the Lake District
The only membership organisation dedicated to protecting
and enhancing Lake District and Cumbrian landscapes
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  • Land Manager's Diary

    Land Manager's Diary

    We own and manage land across Cumbria and the Lake District. This work is coordinated by our property manager Jan Darrall who will be keeping this diary to highlight the amazing work carried out by our volunteers and to provide updates on site visits, events and plans for the future. Read more

  • Location Map

    Location Map

    Our land includes valleys, native woodlands, moorlands, uplands and commons. We encourage you to get out and visit some of these hidden Cumbrian treasures! Read more

  • Dam Mire Wood, Threlkeld

    Dam Mire Wood, Threlkeld

    We have been gifted a two hectare piece of land by member and Threlkeld resident Prof Mike Hambrey. The generous gift of the land makes this our most northerly piece of land. We're now in the process of building a bridge to cross Kilnhow Beck and creating a new path to enable it to be accessed and enjoyed by all. Read more

  • Land Manager's Diary
  • Location Map
  • Dam Mire Wood, Threlkeld
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  1. Home
  2. Land Management

Land Management

Friends of the Lake District has owned land in Cumbria since 1937. We own land in order to enhance the landscape of the area; carry out practical conservation projects; increase access and model best practice in land management. Our land includes valleys, native woodlands, moorlands, uplands and commons.  We encourage you to get out and visit some of these hidden Cumbrian treasures!

Use of Plastic Tree Guards

Use of Plastic Tree Guards

We are no longer buying new plastic tree guards but re-using from our current stock while we await the outcome of current trials of non-plastic tubes which look very promising. When we next add to our stock of tree tubes, our intention is to adopt a more environmentally friendly solution. Read more

Published: 7th March, 2022

Updated: 17th March, 2022

Author: Chris James

Land Manager's Diary

Land Manager's Diary

We own and manage land across Cumbria and the Lake District. This work is coordinated by our property manager Jan Darrall who will be keeping this diary to highlight the amazing work carried out by our volunteers and to provide updates on site visits, events and plans for the future. Read more

Published: 31st January, 2022

Author: Chris James

Location Map

Location Map

Our land includes valleys, native woodlands, moorlands, uplands and commons. We encourage you to get out and visit some of these hidden Cumbrian treasures! Read more

Published: 30th January, 2022

Updated: 8th June, 2022

Author: Chris James

Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation

Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation

Whilst climate change mitigation and adaptation is not the primary reason we own or manage land, it is an important factor we take into account when deciding on our management regime across the 586 ha of land that we own or manage. Read more

Published: 29th January, 2022

Updated: 8th June, 2022

Author: Chris James

Dam Mire Wood, Threlkeld

Dam Mire Wood, Threlkeld

We have been gifted a two hectare piece of land by member and Threlkeld resident Prof Mike Hambrey. The generous gift of the land makes this our most northerly piece of land. We're now in the process of building a bridge to cross Kilnhow Beck and creating a new path to enable it to be accessed and enjoyed by all. Read more

Published: 8th October, 2021

Updated: 21st October, 2021

Author: Chris James

High Borrowdale

High Borrowdale

High Borrowdale is situated 8.5 miles north of Kendal. The best way to access it is from the A6, south of Shap. There is open access at all times. Read more

Published: 12th December, 2019

Updated: 13th December, 2021

Author: Sophie Hodge

Little Asby Common

Little Asby Common

This is situated about five miles east of Orton. There is open access on the common at all times. Read more

Published: 11th December, 2019

Updated: 5th August, 2021

Author: Sophie Hodge

The Helm

The Helm

Situated near Oxenholme, just south east of Kendal, and although not a very high hill at 185m, it gives beautiful views. Read more

Published: 10th December, 2019

Updated: 13th December, 2019

Author: Sophie Hodge

Location: The Helm, Oxenholme, Kendal, LA8 0LR

Rusland Woods

Rusland Woods

In 2017 David Archibald, a long standing member and supporter, contacted us with the offer of a gift of two woods, Bull Coppice and Resp Haw Wood, running down the eastern side of the Rusland Valley and we were delighted to add such magnificent woodland to our portfolio. Read more

Published: 7th October, 2019

Updated: 7th October, 2021

Author: Chris James

Gillside Wood

Gillside Wood

Through the generosity of Friends of the Lake District members and landowners Bev and Jo Dennison Drake, we have planted a new 7 hectare native wood along Tongue Gill beck, Grasmere. During 2014 we ran an appeal to raise money for trees. Thanks to our members, an incredible £8,626 was raised, adding to the grant we received from the Forestry Commission. Read more

Published: 14th January, 2016

Updated: 12th May, 2022

Author: Sophie Hodge

Greenbank Wood

Greenbank Wood

A small one-and-a-half hectare woodland opposite the University of Cumbria's campus library on Nook Lane in Ambleside containing some large veteran beech and Scots pine trees dating back to the nineteenth century. Read more

Published: 18th March, 2015

Updated: 13th December, 2019

Author: Sophie Hodge

Mike's Wood

Mike's Wood

Mike’s Wood was created in appreciation of a former Secretary of the Friends, Mike Houston. A generous local member, Anne Beddard, helped with this by giving us some land she owned, enabling us to create a 4.81 ha native wood. During 1993/4 oak, alder, ash, birch, rowan, scots pine, hawthorn and juniper were planted. We have created a footpath through the wood, linking into other routes. Read more

Published: 12th March, 2015

Updated: 17th March, 2022

Author: Sophie Hodge

Hows Wood

Hows Wood

Hows Wood is in upper Eskdale and covers 20 acres (8 ha). We bought the wood from the Forestry Commission in 1987 to restore the ancient native woodland and as a way of showcasing the way forward for managing woodlands. Conifers were removed in 1994, dry stone wall boundaries restored to keep out livestock and deer, a Bark Peelers Hut was conserved and a circular walk waymarked. Read more

Published: 12th March, 2015

Updated: 15th June, 2022

Author: Sophie Hodge

Sweden Wood

Sweden Wood

Sweden Wood is a 2.2ha site, on the north eastern outskirts of Ambleside, just off the popular path up to the beautiful Scandale Valley. It forms part of a wooded valley following Scandale Beck. Read more

Published: 10th February, 2014

Updated: 15th June, 2022

Author: Chris James

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Showing 10 of 14

Latest

  • Sound Mosaic

    Sound Mosaic

    Sit back, close your eyes, slow down and experience a sound tour of the Westmorland Dales through this mosaic of sounds recorded at various locations by sound artist, Dan Fox. A mysterious and evocative medley of traditional music, local voices and sounds of the countryside.

  • Friday 1st July: Can we Achieve a Win-Win?

    Friday 1st July: Can we Achieve a Win-Win?

    There are some really hard decisions to be made by all of us. Can we help nature and yet also retain the traditional characteristics of common land?

  • Westmorland Dales Summer Newsletter 2022

    Westmorland Dales Summer Newsletter 2022

    Welcome to the summer newsletter of the Westmorland Dales Landscape Partnership Scheme, in what promises to be a defining year for us. Despite some ongoing challenges with Covid and the weather, there really is an enormous amount happening at the moment as we catch up on things that have been delayed.

  • Commercial dog walking on the Helm east, Oxenholme

    Commercial dog walking on the Helm east, Oxenholme

    As a landscape charity, we have always worked to secure a landscape that is accessible and available for everybody to enjoy. Unfortunately, this illegal use of our land has become untenable and its impact unfair on legitimate users, wildlife and the Fell Ponies and cattle that graze the Helm.

Most read

  • Join Today

    Join Today

    Play your part in protecting the Lake District by becoming a member today.

  • Volunteering

    Volunteering

    Learn new skills and join our army of volunteers helping us to make a practical difference to the Lake District all year round.

  • Our Purpose

    Our Purpose

    We are an independent charity and the only membership organisation dedicated to protecting and enhancing Cumbria's landscapes for future generations

  • Aerial Flight at Honister Slate Mine

    Aerial Flight at Honister Slate Mine

    We received the disappointing news that the Secretary of State will not ‘call in’ the proposed zip-wires at Honister and so the Authority’s approval stands. The Secretary of State is no longer required to give reasons for his decision.

  • Thirlmere Activity Hub

  • Thirlmere Activity Hub

    Thirlmere Activity Hub

    We consider this to be a wholly inappropriate development in this location. We urge you to take immediate action, write to the Planning Authority and share your concerns about this threat to Thirlmere

  • Why become a member?

    Why become a member?

    Love the Lake District? Become a member of Friends of the Lake District and join thousands of people enjoying and protecting it.

  • The Helm

    The Helm

    Situated near Oxenholme, just south east of Kendal, and although not a very high hill at 185m, it gives beautiful views.

  • Chief Executive - Douglas Chalmers

    Chief Executive - Douglas Chalmers

    Douglas Chalmers joined us in April 2015. He grew up on his family’s farm on the North East coast of Aberdeenshire, and studied agriculture at the University of Aberdeen.

  • High Borrowdale

    High Borrowdale

    High Borrowdale is situated 8.5 miles north of Kendal. The best way to access it is from the A6, south of Shap. There is open access at all times.

Latest tweet

  • Photo competition: last call for entries! Our photo comp closes this Thursday. Have any fabulous photos of the Lake… https://t.co/NySOZSWEMU

    5thJuly, 2022 @Friendsoflakes
  • Elterwater Plans Reignite Theme Park Fears - https://t.co/AZsUb5pPnT https://t.co/xRETxlurLs

    1stJuly, 2022 @Friendsoflakes
  • Elterwater Plans Reignite Theme Park Fears - https://t.co/zZHmDsTS4t https://t.co/OApOlz6m0D

    1stJuly, 2022 @Friendsoflakes


Our aim is to:
Care for the scenic beauty, rich wildlife and historic heritage of our county’s landscapes;
 Ensure Cumbria's landscapes are passed on to future generations in as good or better condition than they are now;
Encourage people to appreciate our special county – everyone has a right to enjoy Cumbria’s magnificent landscapes

Our Charter

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Get in touch

Friends of the Lake District is now operating a mix of home and remote working. Our core office opening hours are Monday to Friday 10am to 3pm subject to staffing levels. Call 01539 720788 or email [email protected]

Friends of the Lake District
Murley Moss
Oxenholme Road
Kendal
Cumbria 
LA9 7SS

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Registered charity number 1100759