Corporate Social Responsibility
Conservation Projects
Our Projects
Since 1999, English Lakes customers have donated a massive £98,125 towards conservation and environmental education in the Lake District and other areas of Cumbria. The staff and management of English Lakes thank you for supporting our projects.
Storrs Hall supports 'Fix the Fells' since 2005
The 'Fix the Fells' project is a £5 million scheme to repair erosion scars which have developed over the years, and to make sure that these scars are prevented in the future.
The Lake District is visited by millions of visitors every year, and every day you will see walkers enjoying the beauty of the fells. These high level paths are surprisingly fragile, however, and the sheer number of visitors leaves a mark on the landscape.
Over time, grass is compacted by feet, and worn away. Because of the steepness of the hills, what then happens is our traditional Lakeland weather (rain!) starts to wash the soil away, down into the bottom of the valleys. This extra soil washes into the streams, and ends up in lakes where the siltation causes havoc for fish and other species.
The work being done aims to prevent this loss of grass and soil by designing and creating paths that reduce the amount of wear and tear on the surrounding landscape. On the steeper slopes, you’ll see ‘pitching’ where stone has been laid, and on less steep slopes paths have been created with the aid of diggers.
Low Wood Bay supports ‘Wildlife & Wilderness’ since 2002
Low Wood Bay guests help look after and restore wildlife habitat and the (sometimes endangered) species that live in these special areas.
In 2002 Low Wood funded restoration work on the beautiful National Trust’s Stagshaw Gardens.
Monies raised throughout 2003 and 2004 supported an Eden Rivers Trust project.
During 2004 we also supported work at two Cumbrian Wildlife Trust reserves, including habitat protection for the dormouse in the Duddon Valley.
Presently Low Wood Bay is supporting work on the boundary walls of Barkbooth Lot. The reserve, based upon rough grassland and scrub with wetland areas including a tarn and small reservoir, is a rich habitat for invertebrates including Caterpillars, Damselflies, Dragonflies and two rare species – the medicinal leech and the glow worm!.
Lancaster House supports: ‘Warton Crag Butterflies’
Warton Crag nature reserve is part of the Arnside and Silverdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and overlooks Morecambe Bay in Lancashire.
The reserve has a rich variety of habitats including areas of limestone pavement and ledges, with mixed woodland, limestone grassland and scrub.
Warton Crag is extremely important nationally because it is home to several rare butterfly species, including: Northern Brown Argus, Pearl Bordered Fritillary and High Brown Fritillary, which are UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) species, and the Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary which is listed as a species of conservation concern.
The habitats favoured by these species are under constant threat of encroachment by scrub and dense bracken and require continual management work to safeguard the success of these species.
To keep the area suitable for these rare species grazing, cutting scrub, managing the bracken and coppicing wooded areas are all essential.
By working with local volunteers the project hopes to strengthen links with the local community, raise awareness and increase support to assist with management and monitoring work at Warton Crag in the future.
Waterhead supports ‘Culture and Community’ projects
Waterhead guests are supporting projects which help young people to understand the Environment, and the part they play in looking after it.
This past year Cumbria Outdoors have been supported to work with local schoolchildren, running a residential programme where children learn about wind farms, recycling issues and the impact that climate change will have on their lives in the future.
In previous years the Waterhead has raised £17,000 to support hedgerow conservation work, planting new hedgerows in Hawkshead, specially Low Tock How hedgerow to improve the wildlife and habitat value of the area.
Previously work had been completed in Haverthwaite, Syke Side, High Tock How, Troutbeck Valley and an ancient hedge line at Orrest Head Farm.
The Wild Boar Inn supports ‘The Lancaster Canal Trust’
Restoration work will be carried out on the horse path over the Hincaster Tunnel, a scheduled Ancient Monument and the only tunnel on the Lancaster Canal. Restoration of the path is crucial for the traversing of the 14 miles of canal from Kendal to Tewitfield, part of a big scheme to 're-water' the canal from Kendal to Lancaster. Volunteers from the Waterway Recovery Group will work with the Lancaster Canal Trust to restore this part of the path from its present 'unsafe' condition.Money raised by the Wild Boar will help contribute towards the costs of tool and machinery hire.
The Midland
Working with our Green Champions Club a conservation project will be announced in the summer of 2010. We will keep you informed on progress in the coming months.
Our International Projects
Open Arms International
In an exciting initiative, English Lakes has agreed to support Open Arms International in their commitment to provide relief to orphaned children and destitute families in Kenya, Africa.
Read more...