Case Study
Friends of the Lake District Annual Review 2025/26
A look back at some of the highlights from the last year at Friends of the Lake District.
Welcome to our 2025/26 review of the year
A year in planning and policy
It was another busy year for the planning and policy team with officers providing expert advice to a variety of external organisations and many of our members.
Planning responses
We responded to 26 planning applications – the majority of which were made to applications in the Lake District National Park (54%). The comments we made mainly focused on landscape (including dark skies), but also referred to nature, housing affordability and heritage. We responded to less than 1% of the applications submitted across Cumbria and only 15 of the responses we made were objections.
When we objected to an application, we also provided advice on how the proposal could be made acceptable where possible. In terms of the applications that we objected to, 40% were subsequently withdrawn or refused, and 53% have not yet been determined. Only 8% have been approved without the local planning authority addressing our concerns or following our advice. This shows the positive effects our planning work has had. Besides Roandhead, one of the many planning response successes we had was regarding the carpark at Ullock Moss near Catbells that was refused permission in November 2025.
Other responses
As well as planning applications, we responded to seven applications relating to fencing on common land and six other responses including one regarding the Harrop forestry road at Thirlmere. We also responded to 13 consultations on Cumbrian policy documents. These included the Lake District National Park Partnership Management Plan and 11 national policy documents including the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, and Defra’s Reforming Our Approach to Floods Funding consultation.
We sent three letters to Government officials relating to the importance of rejuvenating hedgerows; the lack of funding for commons; and the need for action on rivers following the Rivers at Risk report published by the Campaign for National Parks.
Undergrounding
We’ve continued to work with SP Electricity North West to encourage overhead powerlines to be place underground. Last year, 1.4 kms of overhead line were removed by SP Electricity North West from a coastal landscape between Meathop and Ulpha (pictured below). It is excellent news that Ofgem will continue its undergrounding allowance in protected landscapes into the 2030s.
In responding to Ofgem’s consultation on the next programme, we stressed the value of removing power lines for climate resilience, as well as improving the view. SP Electricity North West Asset Investment Manager, Ian Fenton, praised the impact of Friends of the Lake District’s policy officer in this work to enhance special landscapes, writing: “The impact you‘ve had has been remarkable. The programme is undoubtedly stronger and more effective because of your involvement.”
Tranquillity research
Working with Wild Land Research Limited and Lune Geographic, we developed a method for assessing and measuring tranquillity levels across the Lake District. This means we now have objective evidence to point to, to help us defend peaceful places from harmful developments or decisions about their management.
Planning outreach
Finally, we launched a planning outreach programme in 2025, delivering workshops to town and parish councils, and other organisations to help them understand the planning system and explore the Development Plan and Development Management processes.
Dark skies
As well as providing lighting advice as part of our responses to planning applications, our dark skies talks and events have continued to prove popular. We have also been involved in the development of the Institution of Lighting Professionals GN01 document. This contains guidance for reducing obtrusive light.
Go wild under the stars
We worked with local schools on a Go Wild Under the Stars project to promote the connections between dark skies and nature. This included fitting light pollution monitors (TESS Monitors) in schools in Cumbria as part of the global Stars4All initiative.
We also worked with Westmorland and Furness Council and several town and parish councils to help them design improved highway lighting schemes in residential areas where excessive lighting was having negative impacts on biodiversity and the health and wellbeing of residents.
Photo: Dark Skies moths session at Brigham School
Our Campaigning Year
The application for 230 lodges and associated development at Roanhead on the Furness peninsula was refused in November 2025 following a campaign by Friends of the Lake District, local people and a coalition of other nature and landscape charities. The proposed development was a serious threat to the internationally significant Morecambe Bay and Duddon Estuary designated sites and the National Nature Reserve at Sandscale Haws.
Elterwater
In less welcome news, we lost the judicial review of the decision to grant planning permission for a major new adventure attraction at Elterwater Quarry. We continue to believe that this attraction will trigger a surge in the volume of traffic to the Langdales, degrading the most essential attributes of this quiet corner of the Lake District. We’ll be monitoring the impacts and holding the developer to account.
Visitor levy
We continued to press for serious discussions about the introduction of some sort of visitor levy (tourist tax or vehicle charge) throughout last year and it was the subject of our annual Kirby Lecture held in November 2025. We commissioned YouGov to run an online survey to gauge levels of public support for a levy, how such a levy might work, and where any money raised should be spent.
Of those surveyed, 68% of Cumbrian residents, and 64% of past or future visitors to the county, strongly supported or tended to support a visitor charge to fund ways of protecting and enhancing the landscapes of the Lake District National Park. Last November, the government announced that mayors, including the Mayor for Cumbria to be elected in May 2027, will have the right to impose a levy on the cost of overnight stays in the area under their control.
Litter and fly-camping survey
We also launched our first survey last year to take a snapshot of people’s experience of littering, fly-camping, and anti-social behaviour in the Park. A total of 785 people responded to the survey which ran over the summer months. 65% of respondents judged that the situation was worse in 2025 than in 2024.
We used the survey results to call for further action and enforcement to be taken in problem areas and were pleased to see an increase in Public Space Protection Orders in some areas of the Lakes, and a better reporting tool on the Cumberland Council website rolled out.
Fairer Housing campaign
In March 2026, we launched our Fairer Housing, Stronger Communities campaign following a report that we commissioned into communities across the Lake District are being hollowed out as permanent residents are priced out or unable to find a home to rent by the proliferation of short-term holiday lets and second homes.
A Year on the Land
Following a successful fundraising campaign, we began work on the extension of Dam Mire Wood in Threlkeld last year which has involved a new bridge and removal of the fencing between the two sites.
Rainforest work
We also continued to work with the charity Plantlife on the rainforest restoration programme in our Rusland Valley woodland. This work has included surveys on lichens, bryophytes, herbivores, building and planting ten tree enclosures, trialling the veteranisation of 10 trees, and doing some dry stone walling repairs.
Wildflower meadows
We are one of the landowners in the Cumbria Seed Bank Project that aims to reverse the decline of rare wildflowers of grassland habitats in Cumbria. For us, the focus has been on our hay meadow restoration field at Mazonwath, where we are working to help re-introduce rare plants using seed collected as part of the project. We had a special volunteer day in October 2025 and planted 1,125 plug plants – a mix of species, including melancholy thistle, black knapweed, cranesbill and a whole host of others.
Multiple capitals
Also in October, we ran a webinar following the publication of our second multiple capital assessment (MCA), this time into Hows Wood in Eskdale – an 8ha native woodland. The assessment, carried out by Prof Lois Mansfield, focused on all the capitals the woodland delivered: natural, cultural, social, human and financial. The assessment produced a total value for the woodland of £2.28 million a year. Our first MCA was of Little Asby Common in 2023.
Workparties
We held 35 volunteer workparties we held last year, involving over 310 people days and 2,000 hours of time. We restored around 20m of dry stone wall, maintained 420m of hedge, and looked after and enhanced over 30ha of woodland.
Hedges and Edges
Our Hedges and Edges project continued to grow last year, with a programme of planting days and training events helping to restore important boundary habitats and support biodiversity.
2,961m
of hedgerow rejuvenation (via laying and restoring) took place. 42 people were trained in hedge laying
17,860
trees planted
2,049m
new hedges planted
107
volunteers worked with us on 27 event days across 25 sites
More pictures from our year
Scroll using the arrows to see more photos from the last year at Friends of the Lake District.
Tebay guided walk
One of 44 events we ran last year that also included dark skies talks and switch-offs, litter picking, conservation days, rural skills competitions and training, hedge planting and webinars.
Fix the Fells
We started sponsoring Patrick, a Fix the Fells ranger, contributing to this impressive partnership project that’s helping stop erosion and keep paths open.
Hedge laying competition
Our annual hedge laying competition took place in February 2026 at Gowbarrow Hall Farm, Watermillock. (George Carr Media)
Virtual tours
We launched four new virtual tours last year, and you can now visit 11 beautiful pieces of land that we look after from the comfort of your armchair! (Colin Aldred/Aerial Artwork)
Kirby Lecture
The 2025 Kirby lecture took place in Kendal Town Hall. Gavin Capstick, CEO of the Lake District National Park Authority, and Louise Dunn, a Keswick councillor and local mayor, took to the stage with Michael Hill for a discussion about tourism.
Great Cumbrian Litter Pick
In March, we coordinated the annual Great Cumbrian Litter Pick. 34 groups took part, with over 300 volunteers collecting more than 250 bags of litter.
Volunteers
Volunteers gave up 3,797 hours last year. They helped look after our land, plant hedges, worked in the office, supported us at events and acted as trustees. (Jonny Gios)
Fundraising and Finance
In April 2025 we ran our first Big Give, Green Match Fund campaign for our Dam Mire restoration project. On top of our regular fundraising appeal we raised a total of £26,358 for this important project. In July 2025 our Hedges and Edges Nature Recovery appeal raised £9,655 and our Christmas Fighting Fund appeal raised £15,850. Our 2025 sale of calendars, cards and other merchandise raised £26,733. We were pleased to welcome 167 new members last year.
You can view our full Annual Accounts 2025 – 2026 & Treasurer’s Report (click here to open PDF).
Thank you
Thank you to our members, supporters and partner organisations for all their support during the last fifteen months. From generous donations to the hard work of our volunteers, we are grateful for all the contributions that we’ve received to help us protect and enhance Cumbrian landscapes.
We also wish to express our sincere gratitude to those who left a gift to Friends of the Lake District in their will: Irene Adams, David Baldock, Clifford Bell, Cedric Briscoe, Derek Brooks, Bernard Casby, Mary Cooper, Elizabeth Eyre, Margaret Gaffney, Diana May Hall, David Huxley, Joyce Jacobs, Mary Kent, Paul Langley, Grahaeme Lauder, Peter Lucas, Brian Mahle, John David Mathews, Gloria Muchowski, Barbara Peel, Walter Pennington, John Pickard, Eileen Richmond, Jean Savage, Pat Schwarzenbach, Roger Stephenson and William Willink.
Leaving a lasting legacy is a wonderful way to ensure that future generations can continue to enjoy the tranquillity and beauty of these special places. If you’d like to know more about leaving a legacy, please contact anne-marie@fld.org.uk.
We’d also like to thank and honour donations made in the memory of: Doreen Allinson, Jeremy Bourne, David Cutforth, James D Foster, John Iddon, Joyce Langtree, Anthony Morris, Judith Helen Moy, John Pickard, Christopher David Roberts and Margaret Wilson.
Mrs Smith donated in memory of her son.
Mr Whitehead donated in memory of his son.
And finally, we’d like to thank our benefactors for their continued support: Catherine Ashton, John Berry, James Brockbank and Louise Ronane, John Campbell, Richard Coates, Philip Cropper, Margaret Haigh, John Harris, Peter Hughes KC, John and Margaret Jackson, Brian Leigh-Bramwell, Rosamund Macfarlane, Matt and Taysia Malone, Jim and Sue Martin, Elizabeth Reddaway, and Andrew and Michelle Stewart.
Main banner photo: students taking part in the Hedges and Edges project (Jonny Gios).
