A virtual tour has been launched of a Lake District wood.
Landscape conservation charity Friends of the Lake District has launched the online tour of Dam Mire Wood in Threlkeld, near Keswick, allowing people to explore the land wherever they are in the world.
The online 360-degree tour of the wood, created by aerial photographer Colin Aldred, allows virtual visitors to explore Dam Mire on a home computer, VR headset or mobile, deep diving into key elements such as the area’s geology, wildlife and land management activities via short videos and blogs.
Dam Mire Wood sits at the foot of Blencathra, just off Blease Road in Threlkeld.
Since taking ownership of the original land in 2021, the charity has planted trees and wetland plants, improved access, installed bird boxes and created a willow den with the help of local schoolchildren.
It now plans to expand the wood into a next-door field, which is currently in a poor natural state making it difficult for biodiversity and wildlife to thrive.
The charity has been selected for this year’s Big Give Green Match Fund to help make the plans for an expanded Dam Mire Wood a reality.
Between Tuesday April 22 and April 29, donations made to the Dam Mire Extension appeal on the Big Give website will be matched by Big Give Champions.
Michael Hill, CEO of Friends of the Lake District, said: “We hope this new virtual tour will encourage even those who cannot physically visit Dam Mire Wood to learn about all the great work we have done there, and support our exciting plans for it via the Big Give appeal at the end of April.
“Of course, we still want to encourage people to pay a visit to Dam Mire in person, and we have dedicated the wood as open access in perpetuity so visitors can enjoy it long into the future.”
The current Dam Mire Wood is already thriving with nature thanks to the work that Friends of the Lake District, with the support of volunteers and West Cumbria Rivers Trust, have done on the site.
Initial plans for the expansion include planting more trees, adding in a bridge and footpaths, and installing bird boxes.
Threlkeld, and neighbouring Keswick, are at high risk of flooding. Donations made to the Big Give appeal will also go towards developing a network of small ponds on the new site to help slow the flow of water from the surrounding fells as well as creating wetland habitat.
The virtual tour of Dam Mire can be seen at www.friendsofthelakedistrict.org.uk/DamMireVT
