A project manager has been appointed to look after a Lake District forest.
Cumbria Wildlife Trust has appointed Pete Jones to look after Skiddaw Forest, England’s highest nature reserve.
He will oversee the restoration of 3,000 acres of habitat, including nearly 1,000 acres of peat bogs and creating 620 acres of lost Atlantic rainforest.
Pete was previously reserves officer for Cumbria Wildlife Trust, where he spent 12 years managing nature reserves in the south of the county.
More recently he was warden at Wild Haweswater, where he worked in upland management and woodland creation.
He said: “It’s so exciting to be taking on the Skiddaw Forest project manager job.
“Skiddaw Forest is an amazing opportunity to demonstrate cutting-edge conservation across a massive area, and I’m really looking forward to working with so many people, including partner organisations, volunteers and local communities, to deliver this ambitious project.”
Pete’s work this year will include organising surveys of flora and fauna on Skiddaw Forest, including birds, mammals and invertebrates, and plant life, such as liverworts, hornworts, and mosses.
Cumbria Wildlife Trust purchased Skiddaw Forest last year, thanks to a long-term partnership between The Wildlife Trusts and Aviva, with additional support from charitable funders, and from people who donated to a successful public fundraising appeal which raised a further £1.25m.
You can watch a virtual tour of Skiddaw Forest on Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s website.
You can still donate to the Skiddaw Forest restoration appeal.
Go to www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk where you’ll also find volunteering opportunities as they arise throughout the year and public events about Skiddaw Forest.
