volunteers Archives

Time to experiment Post

In this week's blog, Jan updates us on Rusland experiments with sheep fat, and battles the micro climate of High Borrowdale.

Volunteer awards and dodgy wall heights Post

This week we've been honouring the volunteers and working with wonky wall heights.

Hedges and Edges project plants and restores 5km of new hedgerows Post

We're celebrating National Hedgerows Week (4-10 May 2026) having planted 2km of new hedgerows in Cumbria and restored a further 3km of hedgerows – a total of 17,860 trees planted!

Bluebells and chocolate chips Post

Spring has come to Cumbria, the bluebells are out and the woods are looking, sounding and smelling amazing. Our land manager Jan tells us more...

Following the Easter break, Jan and our volunteers are back dry stone walling in Mazonwath. Meanwhile, there's an appeal to listen out for a rare toad and an appeal to help double the difference during Earth Raise week.

High Borrowdale extremes Post

While volunteers dig in at High Borrowdale, Jan reflects on the government's Land Use Framework and what it might mean for upland hill farmers while the bridge at Dam Mire opens to the public.

Mud, Maud and Mabel Post

Jan has some cheeky visitors to her garden while there's a muddy volunteer day at Mazonwath. Plus the bridge at Dam Mire is nearly complete.

Great Cumbrian Litter Pick 2026 Post

We're hoping lots of people across the county will help us with an annual spring clean on Friday 27 and Saturday 28 April.

The holly, the digger and the hedgehog hope Post

This week we have been in our beautiful woods in the Rusland Valley, trying to make these woods more resilient and ensure that the features of Atlantic rainforest that we have, are enhanced

Diggers, planting and exposure climbing… Post

Work begins on the new bridge at Dam Mire Wood, and volunteers go climbing up the crag to cut back gorse at the Helm to expose the geology.

The daisy, the tree and the corner… Post