2021 Landscape training workshops for leaders
Hosted by Friends of the Lake District
Friends of the Lake District are running a variety of landscape training sessions throughout spring and summer and autumn this year, specifically designed for outdoor leaders. Gain a deeper understand of Cumbria's upland ecology and understand some of the issues and pressures of outdoor users on the landscape, wildlife and habitats.
Looking at your ‘office space’ with a heightened awareness and understanding may inspire you to think and work differently, to enjoy, protect and respect our beautiful but surprisingly fragile upland landscapes and to pass on this knowledge to those with whom you work.
All sessions are booked on a first come first served basis.
Please bring: Food & clothing/footwear for all weathers.
Workshop programme
17th May – Rocks and glacial history of mid-Borrowdale
The day expedition is a walk which will look at the earliest rocks of the Borrowdale Volcanic Group, possibly some of the underlying Skiddaw Group and the effect of glaciation on the Borrowdale Derwentwater landscape. It will also incorporate scenic viewpoints, such as Ashness Bridge. Participants should gain some understanding of how the landscape has been shaped by forces in the past.
Trainer: Stephen Mott
19th May - Interpreting the landscape of Little Asby Common
The Westmorland Dales, the area of the Yorkshire Dales National Park that lies to the north of the Howgill Fells in Cumbria, is the focus of a 4-year landscape partnership scheme, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, which seeks to engage people in revealing, conserving, enjoying and sustaining the hidden heritage of this unique area. One of the projects, Interpreting the Westmorland Dales, seeks to use a variety of media to help local residents and visitors to understand and appreciate what makes the area so special.
This event will be an insight into:
- the fascinating geology, archaeology, natural history and management of Little Asby Common and surrounding area
- how this landscape can be interpreted, considering what may be appropriate in sensitive upland areas
Trainers:
Amanda Walters – Westmorland Dales Interpretation Officer
David Evans – Westmorland Dales Scheme Manager
Jan Darrall – Friends of the Lake District Policy Officer
26th May – Super moon night nav and dark sky discovery
Cumbria has some of the darkest skies in the country, where people are still able to see the spectacular, natural wonders of the stars above.
Dark skies are integral to the tranquillity and distinctiveness of the great landscapes of the Lake District and Cumbria. They are not just important for stargazers and astronomers, but also for wildlife. Around 50% of animals are nocturnal – following the light of the moon and stars, so light pollution can disrupt their feeding and breeding behaviour.
Friends of the Lake District have been delivering an exciting Dark Skies project since 2019 to reduce light pollution and work towards gaining internationally recognised ‘Dark Skies Reserve’ status for the Lake District National Park, to help protect this darkness.
Being out in the fells at night is a great opportunity to see and experience the landscape and wildlife in a whole new way, but it also brings a whole new set of experiences and challenges. Whether as a planned adventure, or emergency strategy, being able to navigate confidently and safely is very useful and rewarding skill.
Trainer: Joe Faulkner, NAV4 Adventure
16th June - Wild Haweswater – Farming with Nature
The RSPB are working in partnership with landowner United Utilities to trial new approaches to upland management that combine large scale ecological recovery with sustainable hill farming on the Haweswater catchment. The beautiful and secluded valley of Swindale is where the partnership’s interventions are most visible, and include river, hay meadow, bog, floodplain and woodland restoration. These interventions have delivered big gains for wildlife as well as making the landscape more resilient to the impact of climate change, improving water quality, reducing flood risk and locking up more carbon.
Trainer: Lee Schofield – RSPB Haweswater Senior Site Manager
23rd July - The challenges of upland management: How do walkers, farmers and arctic alpine plants all thrive in our uplands?
Glenridding Common rising to the summit of Helvellyn is an iconic location for many in the British uplands. It is visited by tens of thousands of people annually; it is part of two local farm enterprises and is one of a few strongholds in England of Arctic alpine flora and other important species.
The balance between recreation, farming and conservation can be a challenge, especially in hostile upland environments, but that is the focus and aim of the John Muir Trust who have a management lease on the land. Cultural, recreational, environmental issues along with the huge opportunities for education will be discussed on a walk from Glenridding across the common to Red Tarn.
Trainer: Graham Watson, Pete Barron - John Muir Trust
12th August – Understanding tranquillity
Tranquillity is one of many components that come together to create the overall character of a landscape, and it is something that many visitors to the Lake District and Cumbria come to enjoy but it is often misunderstood or not fully understood even by those tasked with protecting it.
In this session, Prof. Denise Hewlett of the University of Winchester’s Tranquillity Project along with our Policy Officer Kate Willshaw and Planning Officer Lorayne Wall will guide you on an exploration of tranquillity using the landscapes of our land at High Borrowdale and The Helm to help us consider questions such as What is tranquillity?, Why is it important? How do we experience it? And how do we take tranquillity into account in decisions that affect the landscape?
Trainers:
Lorayne Wall – Friends of the Lake District
Kate Willshaw - Friends of the Lake District
Prof. Denise Hewlett of the University of Winchester
26th October - Borrowdale’s Rainforests: An insight into a forgotten aspect of Cumbria’s natural heritage27th October - Borrowdale’s Rainforests: An insight into a forgotten aspect of Cumbria’s natural heritageThis session is running twice - choose one date to attend.
Join April Windle, a lichen enthusiast who has worked extensively in Cumbria, to experience, appreciate and fully immerse yourself in some of the finest rainforest habitats the British Isles has to offer. Bring your waterproofs folks, we are heading to the wettest place in England …Borrowdale.
This session will introduce you to Atlantic woodlands and the lichens and bryophytes that characterise Cumbria’s rainforests, focusing on their importance, fragility and conservation going forward.
Trainer:
April Windle
Walk leader
HOW TO BOOK:
Click on the hyperlinked workshop titles for more information about each session.
To book on any of the
FREE sessions please email
ruth-kirk@fld.org.uk (tel. 01539 720788)
Please note there is no indoorbackup venue so the sessions will go ahead in poor weather unless unreasonable or unsafe to do so.