Reserves and sites of interest operated by the RSPB in Cumbria appear to have avoided cutbacks the charity is planning to make following a review of operations.
Rising costs are being blamed by the charity as the reason for proposals to close cafes and visitor centres at sites across the UK and change the way educational activities are offered.
The 135-year-old charity said: “The economy has not been in the best of shape in recent years. Every one of us is feeling the cost-of-living crisis and inflationary pressure, and many people are having to make difficult decisions in their day-to-day lives to make ends meet.
“This situation also impacts the RSPB, and indeed many in our sector, in several ways, including increasing cost pressures as suppliers put up prices and rising energy costs across our large estate. Our income is growing but not fast enough to keep up with rising costs.
“Our income is growing but not fast enough to keep up with rising costs. To give a sense of this, it took £150 million to deliver our work two years ago.
“Today that same work will cost us £165 million, a 10% cost rise.”
It said it had carried out a comprehensive review of its operations and looked for improvements and efficiencies. It added: “To be clear, it doesn’t mean selling off large areas of land to the highest bidder and it doesn’t mean that any of our flagship reserves will disappear.”
It plans to close five retail facilities, one cafe, and four visitor centres across seven sites in Abernethy, Newport, Kent, Suffolk, Hertfordshire, Lancashire and Essex.
It added: “At others, we are reducing our work in order to do more elsewhere. At these sites, totalling less than 1% of our landholding, this will mean working in partnership with other charities, community groups or local councils to find sustainable futures for these places. In the coming years, some will focus primarily on maintenance, and others on developing their incredible conservation outcomes.
“Our long-term aim is to focus on what we do best and where we can do this most effectively.”
The RSPB manages sites at Campfield Marsh at Wigton, St Bees Head, Geltsdale, Haweswater and Leighton Moss in Cumbria.
