Our Land>

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Middle Bleansley in the Lickle Valley near Broughton in Furness is our most southerly piece of land. Nestling in the quieter part of the south west Lake District, it a delightful mix of grazed fields and native woodland with stunning views in all directions.

The property comprises 10ha of woodland and 6ha of pasture land. It was a generous legacy in 2022 from Friends member Mark Stansfield Stephenson. Mark was a determined gentleman and over 20 years had planted up much of the land, pushing a wheelbarrow full of trees and tubes to the top of a substantial hill to plant all on his own.

The land has marvellous views. From the lower slopes it looks east towards the Woodland and Blawith Fells and down to the estuary around the Duddon, over to Barrow and Millom. From higher up the fell and the top, you can look west towards the Thwaites and Ulpha Fells, and there are tantalising glimpses north towards the Langdales. 

There was a small piece of established woodland that now forms more mature trees and all the trees that Mark planted are now growing well to give the impression of a beautiful woodland climbing up the fell. A public footpath from the lane at the bottom goes up through the woodland to the top of the site which is more open. The four fields at the bottom are grazed by Herdwick sheep belonging to a neighbour. 

Since we took ownership of the site we have commissioned surveys regarding its ecology and lichens. We have fixed walls and cut the roadside hedge, and our volunteers have worked hard removing thousands of old tree tubes from the trees Mark planted. We have also put some individual trees in cages that Mark had made in the fields.

Directions

Middle Bleansley

Located a mile from Broughton Mills village. Adjacent to the Woodland Trust's Croglinhurst Wood. What3words: https://w3w.co/outsmart.inches.hush Unfortunately there is no public transport to this site