Friends of the Lake District was proud to host a training visit from the Westmorland Dales apprentice team and their Lake District counterparts in our beautiful Resp Haw and Bull Coppice woods in the Rusland Valley.

We were delighted to welcome Lake District apprentices as well as this year's cohort of four apprentices employed as part of the Westmorland Dales Landscape Partnership Scheme. The Scheme is providing work-based apprenticeships in environmental management and cultural heritage conservation with the aim of provide opportunities for young people to conserve special features of their local area and deliver heritage and conservation gains over the course of their 18 month apprenticeships. 

These ancient semi natural woods provided the backdrop for identification of trees, birds, ground flora and funghi.

It was great to hear the apprentices’ views on the woodland, the challenges and their ideas for solutions, and an added bonus to listen to the bird song of mistle thrush, redwing, nuthatch,and  blackcap!

In 2017 David Archibald, a long standing member and supporter, contacted us with the generous offer of a gift of two woods, Bull Coppice and Resp Haw Wood, running down the eastern side of the Rusland Valley. Following the subsequent transfer of ownership, Friends of the Lake District now manages this glorious ancient woodland. Read more>