The Cumbria Wildlife Trust aims to restore a huge, lost area of Atlantic rainforest as part of its 100-year vision for bringing back wildlife to the lower slopes of what will be the highest nature reserve in England.
Skiddaw Forest in the Lake District covers 3,000 acres of currently ungrazed upland. Over 2,200 acres of other habitat will be restored including montane scrub, wildflower grassland, heather moorland and 992 acres of peat bogs. According to the charity, open public access to this popular fell, including Skiddaw’s summit, will be secured by its purchase and ensure this internationally important site will be protected for nature and geology.
The site came up fr sale for £6.25m. Through their partnership with Aviva, £5 million has been raised towards the purchase, with additional support secured from charitable funders. The charity needs to rise the final £1.25 million and is appealing to the public, by means of donations to help secure the purchase.
Once a royal hunting ground, Skiddaw Forest would become England’s highest nature reserve and the UK’s biggest project to restore Atlantic rainforest. The charity expects to see the return of wildlife such as hen harriers, black grouse, aspen and even rare upland bumblebees.
Stephen Trotter, CEO of Cumbria Wildlife Trust, said: “This is a unique and exciting opportunity to create England’s highest nature reserve and, working with farmers and the local community, we urgently need to put more wildlife back into a much-loved and spectacular part of Cumbria. We’re extremely grateful to Aviva and other donors for the contributions already made towards the purchase of Skiddaw Forest. Now we’re asking the public to give whatever they can to help us secure this site and to bring more nature to this very special place”.
“Skiddaw Forest offers a unique opportunity for wildlife and climate resilience at a major scale in the Lake District National Park. We have to reverse the decline of nature in National Parks to help address the impacts of the climate emergency and the wider wildlife crisis,” he added.
Claudine Blamey, Chief Sustainability Officer, Aviva, said: “We’re delighted to see Skiddaw in the Lake District chosen as the latest site in our partnership with The Wildlife Trusts, creating England’s highest nature reserve in such an iconic location. Restoring temperate rainforest, peatlands and other habitats on Skiddaw will help the Lake District become more climate ready and provide communities and visitors the opportunity to experience the wonder of British rainforests for years to come.”
Mountaineer Sir Chris Bonington, said: “As a lover of the Lake District fells, and a keen advocate for the environment and biodiversity, I can’t think of a better organisation to manage Skiddaw Forest than Cumbria Wildlife Trust. Their tireless work has really helped to put wildlife into the consciousness of the public and put nature back onto the map.”
Writer and television presenter Julia Bradbury, said:”This is an amazing opportunity for nature recovery on such a large scale. I’m delighted Cumbria Wildlife Trust can begin restoring precious montane habitats on this iconic Lakeland fell which is still close to my heart in so many ways. Our natural world needs a lot of help and its visions like this that can make a tremendous difference. Let’s help keep these wild spaces protected for generations to come.”
For further information and donation details, we refer you to the Cumbria Wildlife Trust.