26th September 2023: Rain, rain with a chance of further rain Land Manager's Diary: Read it here> BOOK onto one our upcoming workparties> Wet, wet, wet about sums up the Lake District at the moment. Weather forecasts from the Met Office try and give a hint of sunshine now and again to lighten the perpetual rainy doom forecast by the BBC, but at the end of the day as predicted yesterday, Sweden Wood was wet, very wet. Pictured: Big becks after a deluge at Sweden Wood We were up in Sweden Wood above Ambleside with the volunteers. We deemed it too wet even to take our best friend the strimmer! But, we did take two new brilliant volunteers with us. Pictured: Our brilliant volunteers busy clearing walls Gerard and Jack joined us all the way from Manchester, getting an early train and then a bus and it was such a shame the weather was not better. But we all got stuck into work and cleared up the path around the wood, chopped some bramble and bracken from encroaching into the Victorian terraces, herded out some sheep seeking shelter and removed some tree guards that had escaped notice on previous work parties. Pictured: Cleared pathway at Sweden Wood Talking to Gerard and Jack it was obvious just how much the Lake District means to them, the place they come to for real refreshment and enjoyment, a complete emotional connection. That is something we see a lot in people we work with and it is something always to be respected and cherished. It also reminds those of us who are lucky enough to live in the Lakes just how lucky we are, and despite the wet to take time out now and again to appreciate it. Pictured: Cleared terrace at Sweden Wood I think the clothes have just about dried out after a night on the aga ready for next week at Middle Bleansley, near Broughton. Do come and join us in this hidden bit of the Lakes. More information and booking> If you are a fan of getting wet, we have spaces left at our Kirkby Lecture on 6th October. More information and booking> We also still have spaces on our webinar on 12th October when we explain our new ground breaking research into valuing all the benefits Little Asby Common provides. More information and booking> Manage Cookie Preferences