Mini Mountains Should Have Mini Mountaineers

Normally our blogs concern our day to day practical conservation work and of course our engagement with the public, on some days however this engagement become much more closely focused, and in this case definitely a lot of fun
We have always had connections with local schools and are keen to help get the children outdoors and closer to nature, well this week the children from Ennerdale & Kinnisde School got a wee bit closer to nature than they might have intended

Class teacher Mrs Watson leads the juniors up a very wet Rannerdale Knotts

On a very wet and wild Wednesday, Ranger Dan and myself, along with our guest blogger, intern Becky Ingham took 29 children aged 7-11 up Rannerdale Knotts to look at a range of subjects from glaciated valleys, NT footpath management, the water cycle and farming.

Becky explaining the Water Cycle while Ranger Dan shows us an ancient Potash Kiln

I’ll hand over to our guest blogger Becky to give you her impression of the day

“As an outdoor events intern I have been able to do so much with the National Trust in the last six months and I’ve found how much I enjoy being outside whatever the weather. That definitely came in handy on Wednesday when I went out with Rangers Paul and Dan and Ennerdale School up Rannerdale Knotts

Heading for the summit

The weather was magnificent, in the almost blown off your feet and wet enough to make a duck think twice about going out kind of way. It definitely proved the saying that ‘there is no bad weather, just bad clothes’ as we were mostly kept dry and warm by our waterproofs. We had truly fantastic views as the clouds moved, showing us the fells and then hiding them again. At one point we could see the rain shadow hurtling towards us over Crummock Water and making the fells behind almost disappear.
The Ennerdale kids were fantastic, as Paul said; ‘mini mountains should have mini mountaineers’ and that’s definitely what we had. I don’t think I heard a single moan about the weather, even from the littlest.

Are we there yet?

 I hope they enjoyed learning about the footpaths that wind their way all over the fells, the Rangers who look after them and the history of that beauty spot as much as I did”

We'd like to thank the children, teachers and parents, and of course Becky for giving Ranger Dan and I, a cracking if wet day out, looking forward to next time.

The Emergence of Ash Dieback at Watendlath

Having witnessed the demise of the English Elm through the 1970’s as tree after tree succumbed to Dutch elm disease I guess it was just a matter of time until we repeated the scenario with another invasive species, after all we spend millions of euros each year moving untold quantities of plant and animal species around Europe and Asia so it should not really come as a surprise. The Lake District with its network of small farms and field systems is more or less dominated by Ash (Fraxinus excelsior) and nearly all of the mature trees in the farmed landscape are also ash! Furthermore many of the ashes are ancient pollards with a history of management going back hundreds of years and these very special trees support a wonderful array of wildlife including rare mosses and lichens and an unknown number of insect species. 

Removing and burning ash at Watendlath 

Volunteers kindly gave up their time to help us

The ash pollards form part of ancient wood pastures and in February of 2012 we planted over 600 new ash trees at Watendlath, this small idyllic hamlet is home to several hundred ancient ash trees many over 400 years old. The news of this new disease, Ash Dieback (Chalara Fraxinea) caused concern and having a contact at FERA (Food & Environment Research Agency) I was able to have these newly planted trees tested earlier this month and a few days later received the bad news that they were indeed infected. Following advice from FERA and The Forestry Commission, we took steps to try to save the woodland. The trees had been planted in tubes and fallen leaves were nicely contained within them, one week later and all had been removed and burnt on site to try to save the woodland.

Ancient pollards in Watendlath

Was this successful? Only time will tell and next summer will reveal the true extent of the disease. The area will be closely monitored for any signs of infection by this nasty little Ascomycete and every effort made to reduce its impact on this incredibly ancient landscape that we put so much effort into conserving.

Wordsworth's Hens winter retreat

The National Trust takes animal husbandry very seriously and when it comes to ensuring their visitor attractions are representing the correct era in history, even the poultry must be right.

The Georgian property of Wordsworth house in Cockermouth, William Wordsworth childhood home, had a new addition to their garden last year. Three hens joined the team of dedicated garden staff and volunteers, doing their bit to help control garden pests by eating any that they were given. The fine looking ladies were an attraction in their own right and proved very popular with visitors as well as those who work in the gardens but late in the season all was not well.


Poppy's surprise at Hetty's return


Despite having the finest hen house, carefully made the Georgian way with hand made nails and native hardwood timber, one of the hens had 'flown the coup' seeking an adventure of her own, perhaps inspired by Wordsworth's famous poetic descriptions of the lake district on the doorstep.

Fearing that she had been stolen, a safer place was sought for the remaining two birds to overwinter and they came to stay with my flock in the woods. Just days later the missing hen Hetty was found, she was in the building next door to Wordsworth house where she had been eating flys and spiders to her heart's content. Being a rare breed Scott's dumpy hen (one of only a few breeds of hen kept in the Northern England in Georgian times) and not having especially long legs seemed to have limited how far she was able to "wander lonely as a cloud"

Reunited with her hen housemates Poppy and Maisey, all three have been happily scratching and pecking ever since and after a busy summer season in the Wordsworth House garden being admired by many and eating as much as a hen can, they are back in the tranquillity of the wood for another winter. 

To find out how you can see these hens click here



Wordsworth hens reunited



Whitehaven's winter wonderland

As winter start to make its presence felt, here are a few of snaps taken by the National Trust's Whitehaven and Ennerdale Ranger, Chris Gomersall to show its not all rain, mist and wind at the same time.



St Bees head and the Isle of Man






















Sometimes its clear and colder.



Saltom pit and St Bees head shrouded in snow























And when snow falls the lake district fells are not the only place worth a visit.


An old addit on south shore






















So if its perishing outside then the chances are that visibility is excellent and if you can keep yourself warm its well worth stepping out.


Whitehaven's west pier and Criffel beyond dusted with snow






















Who knows what you'll find this winter. For more information about the Whitehaven coast visit the website www.colourfulcoast.org.uk



Haig colliery mining museum






















Have you seen Whitehaven in the snow?

Whitehaven coast bonfire, a roaring success

On Saturday Nov 3rd 2012 the National Trust hosted an annual free public bonfire event at Whitehaven's iconic Candlestick chimney offering mulled wine, soft drinks and cake to warm spectators who watched as the fire caught hold at 6.30pm. The location over Whitehaven's historic harbour gives great views of everybody's fireworks around the georgian town.

Next years bonfire will go on tour starting in Whitehaven on Friday the 1st of November and moving to Keswick the next day on Saturday the 2nd of November 2013.

Visit our website www.colourfulcoast.org.uk or click here for our National Trust page

Flamin' fantastic