A project to improve a West Cumbrian woodland has been awarded over £120,000.
The cash, from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, will be used to enhance Walkmill Woods in Moresby.
West Cumbria Rivers Trust and Moresby Parish Council have been given the £121,423 grant for the work.
A Wilder Walkmill aims to improve access, support nature recovery, increase volunteering opportunities and events and provide education sessions and forest schools.It aims to restore the river and create more wetlands.
An apprenticeship scheme is also planned in employable conservation skills.It is hoped that an application for a full National Lottery grant will be submitted next March for the site, which was saved from sale by Cumbria County Council in 2018 and it is now designated as a community asset.
Jodie Mills, director of West Cumbria Rivers Trust, said: “It is an honour to work with such a passionate and committed group of people who saved the site to ensure it remained a community asset for generations to come.
“We will be working with the community this year to explore the site’s fascinating history and to develop plans and proposals to make the site better for people and wildlife, in particular by restoring the river out of its concrete channel and creating more wetlands for everyone to enjoy.”
Nick Troughton, chair of Moresby Parish Council, said: “We have an outline plan for the site and will be bringing in specialists in ecology and archaeology.
“We are looking for wider community input into the plans and volunteers to implement them.”
An open day will be held on July 17 for people to find out more. To help with the project or attend the event, email sarahclarke@westcumbriariverstrust.org or call 017687 75429.
