2014-2015 Annual Review
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2014-2015 Annual Review Protecting Wildlife for the Future Cumbria Wildlife Trust: 2014-2015 Cumbria Wildlife Trust: 2014-2015 Chairman’s introduction A word from our President There are a great in partnership with other organisations, seas safeguarded for the future. This was The last year has seen feel there is a positive case from our number of conservation land owners and agencies, and support a made possible thanks to the Skills for real progress for Cumbria perspective we are open to doing so, as organisations working network of volunteers whose role is vital the Future programme, funded by HLF, Wildlife Trust, and in in this instance. to protect species and in achieving success and to whom we are which enables up to six trainees each year particular the completion habitats at local, national truly grateful. to gain work-based experience in marine of the acquisition of In a world where immediate financial and international levels. conservation, including organising the Eycott Hill near Berrier, problems appear to dominate so much They all have different visions and This year, an important priority has been hugely successful conference! With two which is an important site as well as a of the news, the importance of wildlife – missions but we summarise our purpose to secure Eycott Hill as a nature reserve, new conservation apprenticeships also strategic area for the Trust. and our responsibilities towards it on as: ‘Cumbria Wildlife Trust is the only which has been achieved thanks to the p Dr. Tavis Potts was just one of many starting in 2014, it is with great pleasure behalf of both the present and future voluntary organisation devoted solely to support of members and generous grants speakers at our Irish Sea Marine that I can reflect on the last year and be Clearly we do not acquire land for generations – must not be forgotten. the conservation of the wildlife and wild from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), Conference in April 2014 proud of the expansion in training across its own sake – not least because land We won’t! places of Cumbria’. This is our vision for a WREN, Cumbria Waste Management the organisation. ownership brings with it a range of Cumbria rich in wildlife, valued by all. Environment Trust, Garfield Weston been to inform people and encourage responsibilities and problems, and Lord Inglewood Our mission, therefore, is to create Foundation and Banister Charitable them to support marine protection The variety of projects we undertake expenditure. However, where we Hutton-in-the-Forest Living Landscapes and Living Seas for Trust. We are now presented with an by responding to the Government’s (including upland wetlands, dwarf future generations. exciting opportunity to restore this special consultation. To receive so many letters willow and hay meadows etc.) make real upland site between Keswick and Penrith, calling for the designation of Allonby Bay contributions to large-scale restoration, We need a strategic approach because the and demonstrate how uplands can be and West of Walney as MCZs highlights mapping and habitat creation. However, challenge is vastly greater than what we managed so that wildlife can flourish. growing public support for conservation there is (and will always be) much more Contents can accomplish, especially in these times of the sea as well as the land. work to be done, so I look forward to of financial stringency. Also, it is essential We have also been, and will remain, the next year knowing it will be just as Living Landscapes 4-6 Inspiring people 16-17 for the Trust to work to a Five Year Plan, committed to Marine Conservation Zones The Irish Sea Marine Conference in exciting as the news of osprey chicks this Better havens, more wildlife 7-9 Thank you 18-19 where specific objectives lead to strategies (MCZs) and the urgent need to establish April was a particular highlight of the year but aware that there is a long way to and long-term programmes of work. To a coherent network of these protected year, with inspirational speakers and go before we can relax knowing all is safe! Living Seas 10-11 Financial report 20-21 do this effectively, the Trust must work areas in the Irish Sea. Our objective has delegates united in a desire to see our Highlights 2014-15 12-13 Legacies and in memoriam 22 Anne Powell Your highlights 14-15 Looking ahead 23 Cover: Eycott Hill Nature Reserve. Photo: Mike McFarlane 2 Protecting Wildlife for the Future 2014-2015 Annual Review 3 Living Landscapes Living Landscapes Our vision to create, conserve and disturbance-free sanctuary for coastal red poll to graze the limestone grasslands. connect wildlife-rich places in both rural birds. Improvements for flora diversity This approach benefits both the diversity and urban areas of Cumbria to form a have also commenced at Natural of plant species by opening the sward, Living Landscape is at the very heart England’s North Walney Nature Reserve, and also the local grazier and community of everything we do. To accomplish this where we have installed 2.2km of stock in the form of high-quality meat. Where we work in collaboration with a number fencing to bring the whole site under grazing alone has been insufficient, scrub of different organisations and groups, conservation grazing management for the management works have been necessary including Government agencies, other first time. Further work at these nature to recover the habitat balance within the charities and local landowners, as well reserves, as well as our Foulney Island wider landscape. as local businesses and communities. Nature Reserve and BAE Systems West of Often, this is through the Local Nature Airfield site, will gradually restore these Another aspect of our work to help Partnership (LNP), with the Trust unique habitats to improve them for a Cumbria’s landscape to flourish is our playing a central role and providing the variety of species from natterjack toads to Meadow Life project. With hay meadows secretariat for Cumbria. little and Arctic terns. suffering serious decline in recent decades, the Trust has been committed to working In 2014 we launched a new five-year Within the wider Morecambe Bay with farmers and volunteers to return project to improve, regenerate and protect Local Nature Partnership (LNP), we these meadows to wildlife havens across coastal wildlife habitats in the sand dunes have been involved in the Morecambe the county. In 2013 we improved or restored around Barrow-in-Furness. Working Bay Limestone and Wetland Nature 40 hectares of meadow, and 46 hectares in with the Morecambe Bay Partnership Improvement Area (NIA), hosting the 2014. This is a significant contribution to and Natural England, with funding from Grassland Advisor to deliver a specific Cumbria’s total area of hay meadow, which WREN, practical restoration is now well project to achieve wildlife-rich limestone was estimated to be 278 hectares in 2008. underway. At our South Walney Nature grassland that maximises benefits for To date, we have planted over 25,000 plants Reserve, the first phase of the grassland biodiversity and local communities. This with the plugs provided by HMP Haverigg. restoration has been completed to benefit project, now at the end of its three-year This partnership benefits not only the specialist dune plants including the term, has involved us working with land restoration programme, but also the unique Walney geranium, with excess managers, supported by the Higher Level u Summertime planting at Mallerstang, material used to create 1km of bunds Stewardship Scheme, to return native, near Kirkby Stephen. to screen sensitive areas and create a hardy cattle such as belted Galloways and Photo: Michelle Waller 4 Protecting Wildlife for the Future 2014-2015 Annual Review 5 Living Landscapes Better havens, more wildlife prisoners who find the work to produce Nationally, Coronation Meadows – a vision When the opportunity to purchase Eycott the Trust’s newest nature reserve in the purchase and the delivery of a five-year meadow plants from seed interesting, of HRH the Prince of Wales to create a Hill arose in 2013, the Esmée Fairbairn north of the county started in earnest. restoration and training programme. rewarding and a route to gain City & meadow in every county to celebrate Finance Fund generously agreed to buy Two years on, our vision became a reality With help from volunteers we have Guilds qualifications. Planting on this scale the 60th anniversary of the Queen’s the land on our behalf, and the enormous as news in January 2015 revealed we had undertaken an ambitious programme of would simply not be possible without the Coronation in 2013 – has progressed even task of fundraising to secure this Site been awarded a £1.6million grant from the woodland planting, including large areas continued support from volunteers, many further. The second stage, funded by Biffa of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) as Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) towards the of oak, birch and alder, as well as juniper of whom are also involved in other aspects Award and led by the Trust on behalf of of the project such as surveying meadows The Wildlife Trusts with partners Plantlife and verges, as well as seed collection. and the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, will p Our work to improve limestone see a further 27 meadows restored across grasslands has included Farleton the country over three years. Knott, near Burton in Kendal In August 2014, green hay harvested from Upland Wetlands project, we have been Cumbria’s flagship Coronation Meadow working with Penrith business Barker and at Piper Hole, near Ravenstonedale was Bland, who have developed innovative spread by staff and volunteers at Eycott techniques and built new machinery to Hill Nature Reserve.