Land Manager's Diary: Read it here>

BOOK onto one our upcoming workparties>

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We were over at Little Asby Common last week, walling at Mazonwath with the volunteers. This was the day we finally linked the wall we have been rebuilding for the last few years with the old wall. What an achievement…We thank each and every one of our volunteers who has helped with this massive task. There is just one more bit to do where the wall is being damaged by trees. 

Pictured: The final section of wall left to complete

We have walled in heatwaves and snow showers, droughts and downpours, been joined by sheep, cows and rabbits, eaten an unhealthy but satisfying range of cakes, and unearthed fossils every session.

Pictured: 'Through' stone being placed

Pictured: Camming

The wall looks stunning and not only is it functional in terms of keeping stock where they are meant to be, it is a home to wildlife, a wind break and helps slow the flow of surface water. 

Pictured: Completed wall; bemused labrador..."My stick was on the other side"

In our new report which values all the elements that make up Little Asby Common, it is clear that the public really value the presence of dry stone walls on the common, representing symbols of our cultural and human capital. We held a webinar recently whereby our consultant who did the work for us, Lois Mansfield talked through what she had done to create the assessment of all the benefits from the common, and answered many and varied questions from the audience. You can listen to the recording here>

Hopefully the next step will be to replicate the assessment in other places and other types of landscape to see what impact this has on the results and the weight people put on the different types of capital or benefit from a piece of land. 

We are working hard on the virtual tour of Little Asby common and Mazonwath which has turned out to be quite a challenge. High Borrowdale is  ten times smaller so we have been struggling with how we can bring you all the fantastic drone footage of such a big area but with lots of other information too in such a way that you can find your way around and are not swamped. Hopefully we have found a way and you should be able to explore the Common and surroundings in the not too distant future.