The Upper Duddon Landscape Recovery Project is celebrating its first year with free guided walks.
The project has been awarded 20 years of funding, which is ensuring an income for local farmers, job creation in the valley and ambitious nature recovery.
Overall, the project covers nearly 3000 hectares and includes farmland, forestry, peatland and heath.
Target species include rare wildflowers and upland bird species such as ring ouzel.
The near-extinct pine marten has recently returned to the area, and the plan is to return the once common water vole to the valley.
The walks, on Sunday July 12 and Tuesday July 28, will be led by project staff and farmers, and will include a tour of river and hay meadow restoration work, work to improve the condition of temperate rainforest in the area and a look at wildlife such as wood ants and woodland birds.
Duddon Valley farmer Paddy Deady said: “After just one year we have already restored a large area of peatland and created new wood pasture for our cattle.
“We’ll be able to see the ongoing river restoration work and visit some fantastic oak woodlands”.
Jess Wilson, project manager, said: “The project team have put in years of work to bring the project to life, and we’re already seeing results which we’d like to share.
“Fourteen local jobs have been created, we have regular visits from local schools, and volunteers have been helping us with everything from tree planting to dry stone walling.”
To attend one of the walks, email John Hodgson via [email protected]
The project is funded by Defra’s Landscape Recovery Scheme, as well as a range of businesses and foundations.
The partnership includes the University of Leeds, the National Trust, Natural England, South Cumbria Rivers Trust, Forestry England and the University of Cumbria.
