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LAKE DISTRICT HEDGEROW CAMPAIGN SET TO DOUBLE DONATIONS

The Lake District Foundation, the local conservation charity, is spearheading a fundraising campaign to reinstate and conserve native hedgerows. The charity is participating in The Big Give Christmas Challenge, a match funding initiative enabling donations to be doubled for one week in December. 

The Christmas Challenge launched by the founder of The Big Give, philanthropist Sir Alec Reed CBE in 2008, is the biggest match funding campaign in the UK. It offers supporters of participating charities, like the Lake District Foundation, the opportunity to have their donation doubled for seven days from 1st – 8th December 2020. 

Sarah Swindley, Lake District Foundation’s, CEO said, “We need to raise £7,000 to unlock the match funding available in the Big Give Christmas Challenge for the Lake District Foundation. The fact that any donation made will be doubled during this week is incredible, so we do hope everyone can dig deep and donate. A small donation will make a huge difference, thank you!” 

The Real Hedge Fund campaign aims to highlight the importance of hedgerows in the environment and the role within the cultural and natural heritage of the Lake District. The campaign has an ambitious target to plant 4,000 metres of native hedgerows across the Lake District and aims to raise £100,000 to make this happen. 

The Lake District Foundation launched the campaign in June 2020 in partnership with Ullswater Catchment Management CIC, Food, Farming and Countryside Commission, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Woodland Trust and Eden Rivers Trust. 

The Christmas Challenge 2020 will take place from 12pm on 1st December 2020 until 12pm on 8th December 2020, to make a donation visit : https://donate.thebiggive.org.uk/campaign/a051r00001exMK1AAM  and to find out more the Real Hedge Fund visit https://www.lakedistrictfoundation.org/the-real-hedge-fund/ 

Cumbria Hedgerow Campaign Receives Donation Boost

A fundraising campaign aiming to raise £100,000 to create and reinstate 4,000 metres of native hedgerows in the Lake District has received a generous boost from the Woodland Trust. 
 
The Lake District Foundation, Ullswater Catchment Management CIC, Food, Farming and Countryside Commission, Cumbria Wildlife Trust and Eden Rivers Trust launched the Real Hedge Fund in June 2020. The campaign aims to highlight the importance of hedgerows in the environment, the role within the cultural and natural heritage of the Lake District and to replant native hedgerows where these have been removed. 
 

The Real Hedge Fund campaign has had a fantastic start with 180 metres of new native hedges donated by the Woodland Trust, which equates to a financial donation of £4,500.  
 

Sarah Swindley, Lake District Foundation’s, CEO said, “We’ve hit the ground running thanks to the Woodland Trust. A huge thank-you to them for leading the way with a superb donation. We have an ambitious plan to plant 4,000 metres of native hedgerow, which costs around £25 per metre to manage and plant across Cumbria and we need your help. We want you to see nature as the best investment with the highest return!”  
 

The local conservation charity, Lake District Foundation, is encouraging everyone to get involved by making a donation from £25 per metre. All information can be found at lakedistrictfoundation.org.  
 

Julia Aglionby, University of Cumbria’s Professor in Practice, said: Since the second world war we have lost over half our hedges, that is over 250,000 miles of hedges and many that are remaining are in poor condition. Hedges are great, they provide food for birds and insects, they are refuges for wildflowers and contain multiple species of trees and shrubs. As importantly they reduce flooding by slowing run off, store carbon and act as corridors for wildlife across more intensively managed farmland. From a farming perspective they are good too, providing sheltered boundaries which as a farmer I know are invaluable in stormy weather.  The Real Hedge Fund campaign is an opportunity to make a difference and raise vital awareness, so we hope you get involved and support us. Thank-you.” 
 
The charity will also be running a larger crowdfunding appeal later in the year through the national Big Give platform. It is the leading online match funder which brings charities, philanthropists and the public together to multiply their impact. The crowdfunding appeal will support the Real Hedge Fund campaign, the charity is looking for a small number of donors to help them kick start this appeal from businesses to individuals.  If you would be interested in getting involved, get in touch with the Lake District Foundation either by email, [email protected] or telephone 01539 822622. 

To make a donation to the Real Hedge Fund and for further information visit https://www.lakedistrictfoundation.org/the-real-hedge-fund/
 

We’ve hit the ground running thanks to the Woodland Trust. A huge thank-you to them for leading the way with a superb donation.

Sarah Swindley, Lake District Foundation’s, CEO

Lake District Foundation launches new visitor giving scheme

lake district national park bridge

The Lake District Foundation has launched a new visitor giving initiative to help protect and care for the Lake District National Park.

The Lake District Foundation is encouraging visitors and locals to make a donation to help look after this spectacular place for now and in the future, by offering the opportunity to sponsor a place, project or person – or by making a one-off donation.

This type of donation and fundraising activity was run by the Lake District National Park but will now be carried by the Lake District Foundation on their behalf.

lake district national park gate

Richard Leafe, Lake District National Park, Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted to be working with the Lake District Foundation to carry out this unique way of raising funds to help look after our paths, gates and fingerposts. This charity is suitably placed to take on this activity, they are part of the Lake District National Park Partnership and they raise funds for conservation, environmental and cultural heritage projects across the Lake District. The money which is raised via this scheme will allow for more people to enjoy exploring the Lake District National Park now and in years to come.”

The Lake District National Park maintains more than 3,100km of footpaths and bridleways. The impact of over 19 million visitors each year, combined with the Cumbrian climate, means the National Park are constantly carrying out improvements and maintenance.

lake district national park fingerpost

Sarah Swindley, Lake District Foundation’s CEO, said: “We are excited to be working in partnership with the Lake District National Park to present this visitor giving opportunity.  Giving people the choice to sponsor a place, project or person, through the National Parks work programme, allows individuals to leave a lasting memory in a World Heritage site in celebration or in remembrance of a loved one. We have created a new easy-to-use donation section on our website to allow people to select what, where or who they’d like to sponsor. We welcome all donations and thank everyone in advance for their support.”

Those who are interesting in making a donation have a number of different choices:

  • Sponsor specific items – you can view the available items in a particular area via an interactive map and select the item you wish to sponsor. These items include gates, fingerposts and bridges starting from £250 to £1,000+. All have the opportunity to add a personalised plaque
  • Sponsor any item – you may simply wish to make a donation for any gate, fingerpost or bridge with a personalised plaque but don’t have a preference of where in the Lake District.
  • Sponsor a Park Ranger – the Lake District National Park Rangers work to maintain and improve access, protect wildlife and support local communities, farmers and visitors. It’s a rewarding job but help is required to fund the work on the ground, from £15+.
  • Sponsor an Apprentice – the Lake District National Park have a 100% success rate for apprentices moving into employment after training. Sponsoring an apprentice could help fund their training and equipment from £10 for a new pair of hard-wearing work gloves.
  • Make a donation – our mountains take you to new heights in the Lake District. You can help keep them that way. A small donation makes a big difference, for example £5 could pay for a native tree sapling, £10 could help repair a metre of footpath and £25 pays towards a metre of dry stone wall.

To donate any amount, visit the Lake District Foundation website at https://www.lakedistrictfoundation.org/sponsor-the-lake-district-national-park/

Ullswater Way crowdfunder receives donation boost

A crowdfunding campaign to raise £5,000 for repairs on the popular walking route in the Lake District, the Ullswater Way, has received a welcome donation boost helping the campaign reach the halfway point of meeting its target.

The £1,000 donation came from Ambleside Park Hotel, an exclusive staff only John Lewis Partnership hotel located in Ambleside, overlooking Windermere.

Ambleside Park Hotel has been raising funds for the Lake District Foundation since 2017 donating nearly £9,000 to date through visitor giving from guests.

Andrew Craig-Mair, Partner and Hotel Manager, Ambleside Park, said: “We are delighted to support the crowdfunding campaign for the Ullswater Way footpath repair. We would like to thank all our guests who have made this £1,000 donation possible. There are various ways a business can fundraise for the Lake District Foundation and we hope this £1,000 donation will encourage further visitor giving for the campaign and help towards hitting the final target of £5,000.”

The money raised through this crowdfunding appeal will allow work to be carried out by the Lake District National Park ranger team and volunteers to reduce the impact of the busy summer season ahead. The route needs drainage works, improvements to the path surface, new drystone walling, waymarker signs and to ensure the path is litter-free.

Sarah Swindley, Lake District Foundation’s CEO, said: “We are delighted to receive such a boost to the crowdfunder campaign bringing the current total to £2,988 but still have some way to go with only two weeks left to donate. If you love the Ullswater Way and the Lake District, we urge you to make a donation if you can, as a small donation makes a big difference.”

In return for donations on the crowdfunding campaign, rewards will be sent to those people who donate specific amounts. The rewards include:
Donate £10, receive a Ullswater Way Pin Badge, 20 available.
Donate £25, receive a Conquer Lake District unisex Cumbria Livin’ T-shirt, 20 available.
Donate £50, receive a Columbia Rucksack Urban Lifestyle 25L Daypack – an outdoor-inspired construction and minimalist, city look combine in this versatile commuter backpack, 10 available.
Donate £200, spend a day out with a Lake District National Park ranger repairing the Ullswater Way.

The crowdfunding campaign is running until Monday 27th May at 9pm. To donate any amount, visit the Ullswater Way project page on the crowdfunding website at www.crowdfunder.co.uk/ullswaterway .

Crowdfunding campaign launched for Ullswater Way

A new crowdfunding campaign has been launched to raise money for a popular walking route in Ullswater.

The Lake District Foundation aims to raise £5,000 by the end of April to fund vital repairs to the Ullswater Way.

The money raised through this appeal will allow work to be carried out by the Lake District National Park ranger team and volunteers to reduce the impact of the busy summer season ahead.

The route has proved incredibility popular since launching in April 2016, with walkers, runners, day-trippers on the Ullswater Steamers and those taking part in charity challenges. The footfall is having a huge impact on the environment, causing serious footpath erosion and damage.

The route needs drainage works, improvements to the path surface, new drystone walling, waymarker signs and help to maintain the general upkeep to ensure the path is litter free.

The Ullswater Way, in the Lake District, was created by the local communities and partners to show the Ullswater valley was open for business after the devastating floods in 2015.

Sarah Swindley, Lake District Foundation’s CEO, said: “The 20 mile circular long-distance walk hugs the shores of England’s second largest lake, Ullswater, taking in the glorious landscape, wildlife and villages along the way. It is superb how popular the walk has become with locals and visitors but we need to work hard to care for this much loved route. We want everyone to enjoy that ‘wow’ moment of Ullswater’s incredible beauty for today and for future generations and you can help us do that – visit, give, protect. A small donation makes a big difference, we urge you to dig deep and donate if you can.”

Examples of how a donation could be spent shows small amounts go a long way to support the path:
• £5 helps pay for a new finger post
• £10 helps pay for a new gate
• £25 helps pay for a new section of surface path
• £50 pays for one metre of drystone wall
• £100 covers the cost of planting an acre of new native woodland
• £200 could pay for a day’s digger time or a day’s work for a skilled contractor to carry out the repair work

In return for donations, rewards will be sent to those people who donate specific amounts. The rewards include:

  1. Donate £10, receive a Ullswater Way Pin Badge, 20 available.
  2. Donate £25, receive a Conquer Lake District unisex Cumbria Livin’ T-shirt, 20 available.
  3. Donate £50, receive a Columbia Rucksack Urban Lifestyle 25L Daypack – an outdoor-inspired construction and minimalist, city look combine in this versatile commuter backpack, 10 available.
  4. Donate £200, spend a day out with a Lake District National Park ranger repairing the Ullswater Way.

To donate any amount, visit the Ullswater Way project page on the crowdfunding website at www.crowdfunder.co.uk/ullswaterway before April 29.

The £5,000 crowdfunding campaign is part of a wider Lake District Foundation initiative to generate £15,000 for the ‘LDF Ullswater Way Fund’ to specifically care for the spectacular landscape, wildlife and cultural heritage surrounding England’s second largest lake. The Foundation is running a wider campaign throughout April and May to generate funds ahead of the busy tourism season by inviting locals, businesses and visitors to get involved as follows:

  1. Business supporter – businesses are invited to become a supporter for the Ullswater Way Fund, encouraging them to add a £1 opt in to transactions.
  2. Event organisers – organisations running events in Ullswater are encouraged to support the fund by donating and giving something back to the natural environment.
  3. Contactless giving – locals and visitors are invited to make a donation via the new contactless donation devices which will be installed later this month. Look out for the Ullswater Steamers device at Pooley Bridge.
  4. Fundraise – set your own challenge and fundraise for the Ullswater Way.
  5. Donate – get involved with the crowdfunding campaign and donate!

For further information on the ways to get involved, please visit: www.lakedistrictfoundation.org/the-ullswater-way-fund/

The Ullswater Way Fund

Walking the Ullswater Way is a challenge. Just like taking care of its surrounding footpaths. The path welcomes thousands of visitors each year. We need your help to maintain, protect and care for this much loved path.

The LDF Ullswater Way Fund specifically cares for the spectacular landscape, wildlife and cultural heritage surrounding England’s second largest lake.

You can support us by:

1. Becoming a business supporter for the Ullswater Way Fund
2. Donate!
3. Running an event? Become an event supporter here
4. Look out for our contactless donation device on the Ullswater Way

A small donation can make a big different

  • £5 helps pay for a new finger post
  • £10 helps pay for a new gate
  • £25 helps pay for a new section of surface path
  • £50 pays for one metre of drystone wall
  • £100 covers the cost of planting an acre of new native woodland
  • £200 could pay for a day’s digger time or a day’s work for a skilled contractor to carry out the repair work

What is the Ullswater Way?

The Ullswater Way, in the Lake District, was created by the local communities and partners to show the Ullswater valley was open for business after the devastating floods in 2015.

The 20 mile circular long-distance walk hugs the shores of England’s second largest lake, Ullswater, taking in the glorious landscape, wildlife and villages along the way.

The route has proved incredibility popular since launching in April 2016, with walkers, runners, day-trippers on the Ullswater Steamers and those taking part in charity challenges.

Popularity comes at a cost

The footfall impacts on the environment, causing footpath erosion and damage.

Ongoing path maintenance work is required. The route needs drainage works, improvements to the path surface, new drystone walling, waymarker signs and help to maintain the general upkeep to ensure the path is litter free.

The money raised through this appeal will be used for this work to be carried out by the Lake District National Park ranger team and volunteers.

Make a donation today here.

The Friends of the Ullswater Way, who were instrumental in creating the Ullswater Way, have launched an annual programme of evening
talks entitled ‘Understanding Ullswater’.

They will take place on the first Thursday of each month. Check out the programme here.

Love Langdales Crowdfunding Campaign – we did it!

A massive thank you to everyone who helped us to reach our target of £5,000 for our Love Langdale Crowdfunder campaign, we are extremely grateful for your support.

The task of keeping the Lake District’s paths in good shape falls to footpath repair partnership Fix the Fells, who rely entirely on grants and donations to do their work. Your donation will be used to repair and maintain the upland path from Stake Pass to Pike O’Stickle, via Martcrag Moor in the Langdales.

We intend to carry out the repairs and maintenance in the 2019 fell season with assistance from specialist rangers from the Fix the Fells team. With your donation we are able to:

• build new sections of a sheep fleece path,
• tackle landscape erosion scars and gullies,
• define and rationalise the line of the path, avoiding a fragile upland bog habitat,
• ensure more effective drainage for the path.

This work will help to prevent the spread of ugly erosion scars in the beautiful fells, as well as provide key conservation and environmental benefits including preserving upland habitats for plant species and preventing sediment run-off into streams and tarns.

Thank you again for everyone’s donation, it really will make a difference!

Crowdfunding campaign for Langdale Pikes extended

A crowdfunding campaign to raise £5,000 for repairs to popular walking route in the Langdale Pikes is well-past the halfway point of meeting its target; and the deadline has been extended as support continues to grow.

Earlier this month, The Lake District Foundation launched its latest crowd funder to raise money to fund vital repairs along the path from Stake Pass to Pike O’Stickle via Martcrag Moor, making special rewards available for generous donors.

The cash raised will be donated to Fix the Fells, enabling its volunteers to landscape erosion scars, improve drainage, and define the line of the path to avoid a fragile bog habitat.

Volunteers will also build new sections of the ‘sheep fleece path’ – a traditional type of path that involves ‘floating’ a gravel path over peat bog by using the fleece as a barrier between the ground and the path.

This approach, which is both sustainable and environmentally friendly, results in an excellent upland path that blends in effectively with its surroundings.

James Forrest, Fix the Fells Fundraiser, says, “We’ve really seen a jump in the number of people pledging their support for this project in the last few days, especially from Ambleside Park one of our business fundraisers. We’re well on the way to raising £3,000 at the moment, but we’d love to hit £5,000. We’ve now extended the deadline to February 10 after seeing supporters really pick up the pace.”

In return for donations, rewards will be sent to those people who donate the following specific amounts.

The rewards include:

• A Fix the Fells pin badge for donations of £10 or more

• A Lake District Foundation goodie bag (containing a tote bag, Conquer the Lake District patch, badge and pen) for donations of £20 or more

• A limited edition Fix the Fells t-shirt in a size of your choice – designed by Fix the Fells partner Geo Clothing (https://geoclothing.co.uk/) – for donations of £40 or more

• A day out with the Fix the Fells volunteers on a ‘drain run’ for donations of £100 or more

• A hike with local adventurer and author James Forrest (aka ‘Mountain Man’) for a donation of £200 or more

To donate any amount, visit the Langdales project page on the crowdfunding website at www.crowdfunder.co.uk/martcragmoor before February 10.

Crowdfunding campaign launched for Langdale Pikes

A new crowdfunding campaign has been launched to raise money for a popular walking route in the Langdale Pikes.

The Lake District Foundation aims to raise £5,000 by the end of January to fund vital repairs to the path from Stake Pass to Pike O’Stickle via Martcrag Moor.

The cash raised will be donated to Fix the Fells, enabling its volunteers to landscape erosion scars, improve drainage, and define the line of the path to avoid a fragile bog habitat.

Volunteers will also build new sections of the ‘sheep fleece path’ – a traditional type of path that involves ‘floating’ a gravel path over peat bog by using the fleece as a barrier between the ground and the path.

This approach, which is both sustainable and environmentally friendly, results in an excellent upland path that blends in effectively with its surroundings.

James Forrest, Fix the Fells Fundraiser, said: “The jagged skyline of Langdale is one of Lakeland’s most beautiful sights – and the distinctive peaks of the Pikes are much-loved by walkers, runners, cyclists and tourists alike. But this popularity comes at a price.

“The Langdale Pikes are suffering from ongoing erosion caused by human activity. This is why the work of Fix the Fells’ dedicated teams of rangers and volunteers is of crucial importance. Please help support this vital conservation work. Every donation – no matter how big or small – makes a real difference.”

In return for donations, rewards will be sent to those people who donate specific amounts. The rewards include:

• A Fix the Fells pin badge for donations of £10 or more

• A Lake District Foundation goodie bag (containing a tote bag, Conquer the Lake District patch, badge and pen) for donations of £20 or more

• A limited edition Fix the Fells t-shirt – designed by Fix the Fells partner Geo Clothing (https://geoclothing.co.uk/) – for donations of £40 or more

• A day out with the Fix the Fells volunteers on a ‘drain run’ for donations of £100 or more

• A hike with local adventurer and author James Forrest (aka ‘Mountain Man’) for a donation of £200 or more

To donate any amount, visit the Langdales project page on the crowdfunding website at www.crowdfunder.co.uk/martcragmoor before January 29.

Lake District Foundation launches regular giving appeal

Lake District Foundation launches regular giving appeal

The Lake District Foundation (LDF) has launched a new campaign to boost the number of people who give to the charity on a regular basis.

By donating as little as £2.50 per month, those who sign up to become a regular supporter will directly contribute to funding vital projects aimed at caring for the Lake District and Cumbria’s natural environment and cultural heritage.

Recent examples of projects include fundraising to fix the paths on England’s highest mountain, Scafell Pike, the Haweswater Woodland project – where volunteers will plant 400 protected native trees on a carefully selected area of Mardale Common and earlier this year a fundraising campaign generate funds to support the reconnection of the old Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Path which was washed away by Storm Desmond in 2015.

Regular supporters will be directly supporting high-impact and evidence-based projects on the ground, ensuring the sustainability of our spectacular landscape, wildlife and cultural heritage.

Lake District Foundation Director Sarah Swindley says, “Regular income is of enormous benefit to charities, especially so for the Lake District Foundation. The money raised will enable our team to help fund projects that share our goals much more effectively. Forward planning is so important and having a regular income stream helps us to plan even further ahead. It doesn’t have to be a huge amount of money if people choose to donate. Any amount, no matter how big or small, is welcome. It all adds-up to help us look after this spectacular landscape, wildlife and cultural heritage for future generations to enjoy.”

As a token of gratitude to those who show their regular support, donors will be sent a

welcome pack including a Lake District Foundation tote bag, window sticker, as well as limited edition pin and woven patch badge – the latter of which has been produced by Keswick-based family business, Conquer Lake District.

The regular giving campaign was launched at the weekend’s Holker Hall Winter Market, where the team was joined by University of Cumbria volunteer students from the Ambleside campus, as well as the team from Lake District Pound (LD£).

You can sign-up by telephoning 01539 822 622, 9am-5pm on weekdays, download a paper form from the LDF website. Alternatively, people can sign up face to face at the Kendal Mountain Festival (November 15-18) or the Keswick Victorian Christmas Market (December 2). As an extra bonus, the first 100 people to sign-up will be entered into a free prize draw for a fell runner Jos Naylor-signed LD£ book.

The Lake District Foundation funds work to improve Dash Beck at Bassenthwaite

The Lake District Foundation has approved a grant of over £2,000 towards a project led by the West Cumbria Rivers Trust, working in partnership with Bassenthwaite Rotary Club, to enhance the habitat of Dash Beck and surrounding land.  The project was first conceived by local people, and they will be fundamental to the successful delivery of the works necessary to improve the habitat of Dash Beck for a range of wildlife, particularly salmon and trout.  The project will also improve the safety and accessibility of the footpath from Bassenthwaite village to the lake, benefiting the local community and visitors alike.

The River Derwent, Bassenthwaite Lake’s principal river, is internationally important for its salmon and trout populations but these are currently in decline.  Preliminary work shows that Dash Beck could be an excellent spawning habitat for salmon, trout and other salmonids, but is currently not reaching its potential.  The project will tackle pollution inputs, reduce sediment inputs to the beck, increase in-stream habitat diversity, allow more light to reach the river bed, and will manage the riverside woodland to enhance its suitability for a wider variety of species.  To achieve this, tasks will include clearing and repairing the footpath; stabilising the eroding bank with natural materials; coppicing bankside woodland to allow more light to reach the stream and increase diversity of woodland habitat; pulling Himalayan balsam; and fencing off the beck and footpath from the farmland.  Other planned work includes training for landowners on the benefits of coppicing by Cumbria Woodlands.

As much work as possible will be carried out by volunteers, and activities will give them the opportunity to learn about the stream and the threats it faces.  Volunteers from Bassenthwaite Rotary Club will be trained as Riverfly monitors, taking monthly surveys of invertebrates as indicators of water quality and siltation.  Local volunteers will continue to walk the beck to monitor Himalyan balsam and overgrowth, and will continue to control if necessary.

Work will also be carried out to maintain the footpath alongside Dash Beck down to a quiet area of Bassenthwaite lake shore, where it joins a network of other footpaths, including the long distance ‘Allerdale ramble’ trail.  The project will reduce the risk of bank erosion, making the footpath safer and improving access to the lake.

Dash Beck lies in the northern fells of the English Lake District, descending rapidly from its source on the north facing slopes of the Skiddaw massif over a series of cascades known as Whitewater Dash or Dash Falls, described by Wainwright as the finest succession of falls in the Lake District.  The lower reaches of Dash Beck, which is where the work will be carried out, continue through a small valley of the same name, through the village of Bassenthwaite before flowing into Bassenthwaite Lake at its north-eastern corner.

Keswick Duck Race

The last event for the Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Path fundraising campaign will be on Thursday 21st June in Fitz Park, Keswick.

There are over 500 ducks to be launched between 6pm-8pm on the longest day of the year with the support from local Keswick Scout groups, Keswick Anglers, Lions and Rotary.

Prizes include:

  • First Prize: 2 nights in a Hobbit Hole at The Quiet Site, Ullswater
  • Second Prize: Dinner for two at The George Hotel, Keswick
  • Third Prize: £100 voucher for Travel Chapter
  • Spot Prizes:
    • Afternoon tea for 2 at The Gaddum, Brockhole — Set of signed books from Sean Conway
    • Family Pass for the World of Beatrix Potter, Windermere
    • Discovery Pass for Whinlatter Forrest
    • My Cumbria Card

Ducks are £5 and can be bought online here until midday on Thursday 21st June, at Love the Lakes, St John’s Street Keswick, or on the night.

The funds raised will go towards reconnecting the Keswick to Threlkeld railway path, some parts of which were severely damaged during the floods in 2015.

Two of the old railway bridges that crossed the River Greta were washed away and one bridge left at risk of collapse and around 200 metres of the path surface disappeared into the floodwaters.

In December 2017 the LDNPA were delighted to announce a major funding boost to the project – a £2.5 million grant from Highways England and a partnership with the Lake District Foundation to jointly fundraise the shortfall of around £3 million.

Charity Auction Success for the Lake District Foundation

The Lake District Foundation are celebrating after hosting their first ever charity auction on Friday evening to raise funds for the Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Path reinstatement.

The evening was held at the Lodore Falls Hotel and raised over £4,000 from the 19 lots available on the night and still counting. There were over 90 guests who attended the evening from all over the UK, including special guests Alan Hinkes OBE, Ricky Lightfoot and Sean Conway.

Sarah Swindley, Director of the Lake District Foundation was thrilled with the fundraising event; she said

We are absolutely delighted with how the evening went and how much support the Lake District Foundation has had, to make our first ever charity auction happen. We’d like to say a huge thank-you to everyone involved from the businesses and individuals who donated prizes through to those who attended and bid for items on the night.  We are pleased the evening has helped generate funds for the Keswick to Threlkeld path and raise further awareness of the ongoing campaign.”

PFK Auctions, one of the oldest auction houses in the region, ran the bidding on the night. The most popular lots included a mountaineering day with Alan Hinkes, an adventure day with Sean Conway and a running experience with Ricky Lightfoot. The 3 bespoke bracelets made by Brian Fulton from Fulton Jewellers in Keswick,  Alan Stones framed original lithograph and a collectors set of Lake District Pound notes also raised a significant amount on the evening.

For those who were unable to make the evening, there is still an opportunity to bid for special items online at www.32auctions.com/keswicktothrelkeld until 30th June. The lots include a bespoke 70’s Herdy, a Fell Top Assessor for the Day experience, a VIP behind the scenes tour at Bremont HQ with luxury accommodation in Henley and even the chance to sponsor oaks trees with a plaque along the route of the Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Path.

The funds raised will go towards reconnecting the Keswick to Threlkeld railway path, some parts of which were severely damaged during the floods in 2015.

Two of the old railway bridges that crossed the River Greta were washed away and one bridge left at risk of collapse and around 200 metres of the path surface disappeared into the floodwaters.

In December 2017 the LDNPA were delighted to announce a major funding boost to the project – a £2.5 million grant from Highways England and a partnership with the Lake District Foundation to jointly fundraise the shortfall of around £3 million.

 

Major donations received for Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Path

The Lake District Foundation is thrilled to announce that it has received over £20,000 of donations for the Keswick to Threlkeld fundraising campaign over the last couple of weeks.

The donations have been made by The Keswick Enterprise Holding Charitable Trust, Keswick Town Council and Keswick Bridge Complex.

The Foundation was absolutely delighted to receive a cheque from The Keswick Enterprise Holding Charitable Trust who generously gave £15,000 in support of the fundraising efforts. The Chair of the Trust, John Harvey, heard about the campaign from the local news and was keen to back the fundraising drive. John said “I have enjoyed the beauty and pleasure of the railway path for many years when I visit Keswick. The scale of the fundraising challenge is daunting but I do hope our donation will bring the Lake District Foundation closer to the £300,000 target and hopefully encourage others who are yet to donate to do so”.

The good news continued with confirmation of £2,000 donation from Keswick Town Council, who recognise that this trail is an important part of the local visitor economy and community.

Similarly, £2,000 has been received from Keswick Bridge Complex. The contribution from Keswick Bridge Complex came from the Keswick Bridge Appeal, Robert Duncan, Manager explains “Since Storm Desmond hit we’ve asking our guests to help get the path back up and running by making a donation to the cause. We are so pleased to help with our contribution and looking forward to seeing the path fully connected soon”.

The Lake District Foundation celebrations continued after a successful fundraising weekend for the Keswick to Threlkeld  Railway Path raising over £1,500. Hundreds took part in the special K2T Challenges set by the Foundation. The Lions and Rotary volunteers were out in force over the weekend leading on the street collections and took donations from successful 5km challengers.

The Lake District Foundation, formerly Nurture Lakeland, is the charity raising funds to protect and conserve the Lake District National Park. Sarah Swindley, Director, explains why the foundation is pleased to be supporting the Keswick to Threlkeld campaign, saying “We are delighted to be spear-heading the fundraising campaign, raising awareness and engaging visitors, locals and the business community to donate to the project. The foundation aim is to encourage those who visit the Lake District to help us to protect and give something back.  The path, is hugely popular with locals and visitors to the Lake District alike, has been hugely missed since being extensively damaged in the storms of December 2015. It’s  wonderful to see donations coming in from the community, businesses and visitors and we thank you all for your generous support”.

The Lake District Foundation have set up a number of ways for people to donate, either via their Just Giving Page, by texting ‘KTOT £10’ to 70070 or by cheque addressed to the Lake District Foundation. All donations are welcomed big and small as they all count to help reinstate the path. You can keep up to date with the campaign by visiting lakedistrictfoundation.org.

The funds raised will go towards reconnecting the Keswick to Threlkeld railway path, some parts of which were severely damaged during the floods in 2015.

Two of the old railway bridges that crossed the River Greta were washed away and one bridge left at risk of collapse and around 200 metres of the path surface disappeared into the floodwaters.

In December 2017 the LDNPA were delighted to announce a major funding boost to the project – a £2.5 million grant from Highways England and a partnership with the Lake District Foundation to jointly fundraise the shortfall of around £3 million.

K2T Challenge Weekend Success

The Lake District Foundation is celebrating after a successful fundraising weekend for the Keswick to Threlkeld  Railway Path.

Over £1,500 was raised over the weekend and hundreds took part in the special K2T Challenges set by the Foundation. The Lions and Rotary volunteers were out in force over the weekend leading on the street collections and took donations from successful 5km challengers.

The K2T weekend was aimed at engaging everyone who was visiting Keswick over the Bank Holiday to get outside, enjoy the great weather, try out one or more of the five different 5km routes suggested by the Foundation and make a donation to the fundraising drive to reinstate the Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Path.

Heather Askew, Fundraiser for the Lake District Foundation was delighted with how the weekend went and wants to see this support and awareness continue over the next couple of months. Heather said “It was fantastic to speak with so many people over the weekend and hear everyone’s personal stories and memories of the railway path. Everyone we spoke with was keen to back the campaign and give the 5km challenge a go if they could. Don’t worry if you missed the weekend, the K2T Challenge can be done anywhere at any time! So you can still get outside, complete 5km, donate £5 (text ‘KTOT18 £5’ to 70070), and nominate five people to take on the challenge too”.

The fundraising events continue over the next couple of months with the Hope Park Games and Cafe ‘K2Tee Off’ competition on Thursday 17 May which will be an optional fancy dress golfing competition. The Alhambra Cinema is holding a talk and film showing by Sean Conway on Thursday 7 June and the Foundation will be holding an exclusive ‘money-can’t-buy’ auction on 8 June at the Lodore Falls Hotel with the auction lots being revealed later this week

For details about all the events, visit lakedistrictfoundation.org.

The funds raised will go towards reconnecting the Keswick to Threlkeld railway path, some parts of which were severely damaged during the floods in 2015.

Two of the old railway bridges that crossed the River Greta were washed away and one bridge left at risk of collapse and around 200 metres of the path surface disappeared into the floodwaters.

In December 2017 the LDNPA were delighted to announce a major funding boost to the project – a £2.5 million grant from Highways England and a partnership with the Lake District Foundation to jointly fundraise the shortfall of around £3 million.

Outdoor Legends lead the charge to restore Lake District trail

A host of outdoor legends are throwing their weight behind a major charity event this June aimed at restoring a well-known Lake District trail decimated by Storm Desmond.

Climber Alan Hinkes, runner Ricky Lightfoot and adventurer Sean Conway are all offering ‘money can’t buy’ experiences as part of a charity auction being arranged by the Lake District Foundation next month, to raise vital funds for the Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Path.

The event on 8 June 2018 at the Lodore Falls Hotel in the Borrowdale Valley aims to help raise the £3m needed to reconnect the route for cyclists and walkers, after two old railway bridges and around 200 metres of path surface were washed away by the ravages of the weather in 2015.

  

Three unique outdoor experiences are among the prizes available for the highest bidders on the night:

  • A day on the Lake District Fells with Alan Hinkes, OBE, who is the first Briton to climb the world’s highest mountains, the fourteen 8,000m peaks.
  • A fell-running experience with Ricky Lightfoot, one of the top trail/mountain runners in the world. A former World Trail Running Champion from the Lake District, Ricky holds the record on several iconic races across the world including Mauritius, South Africa and the Scafell Pike.
  • Adventure day with Sean Conway, who is best known as the first and only man in history to cycle, swim and run the length of Britain. In 2016 he completed the world’s longest triathlon, a 4,200mile journey around the coast of Britain.

Sean Conway is also an official Ambassador for the Lake District Foundation. He says, I love the Lake District and I really want to help people make the most of this awe-inspiring landscape. Restoring the Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Path to an accessible trail for walkers and cyclists is a vitally important cause, because we are bringing it back to life for future generations.”

Other prizes up for auction range from bespoke jewellery designed and made in the Lake District to two fantastic VIP garden tours, at the Royal Botanic Gardens of Edinburgh and the European Garden Heritage Network at Schloss Dyck in Germany.

Tickets for the event on 8 June available online: they are £50 per person or you can take a table of 12.

Since Storm Desmond in 2015, around half of the Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Path Multi User Trail (MUT) has been out of action, impacting on thousands of local people and visitors who enjoy the route every year. The Lake District National Park (LDNP) prioritised reconnecting this route, however it is a complex, major project that required significant work. Through 2016-17 LDNP secured as much alternative access for users as possible and carried out detailed design and consent work, funded by Highways England.

In December 2017, LDNP announced a major funding boost and significant step forward, thanks to a £2.5 million grant from Highways England and a partnership with the Lake District Foundation (formerly Nurture Lakeland) to jointly fundraise the balance of around £3m. To help us reconnect this route, donate today by visiting lakedistrictfoundation.org/keswick-to-threlkeld, or text ‘KTOT18 £5’, or ‘KTOT18 £10’, to 70070.

For more information about the auction or to donate an experience, contact Caroline Hoppé, at the Lake District Foundation on [email protected] / 01539 822622.

K2T Challenge Weekend Announced

The Lake District Foundation is holding a special K2T Challenge 5-7 May in Keswick to raise funds to reconnect the Keswick to Threlkeld railway path.

Over the early May bank holiday weekend the Lake District Foundation team will be encouraging visitors, locals, businesses and sporting clubs to complete a 5km challenge and donate £5, all part of the fundraising campaign being delivered by the charity.

The K2T Challenge was launched in March inviting everyone, no matter where you are in the world, to complete 5km, donate £5 (text ‘KTOT18 £5’ to 70070), document the attempt either by a photo or quick video, nominate five friends to take on the challenge and share via social media using #K2TChallenge. Since its launch, hundreds have taken part in various disciplines including a couple ski-touring in the Alps who then made a donation.

The dedicated challenge weekend is designed to raise awareness of the campaign, get more people involved and try a fun 5km route from Keswick. The Lake District Foundation are recommending five different routes, starting with the old railway path from Keswick Leisure Centre up to the where the first bridge was washed away, Keswick to Latrigg, Hawes End to Catbells, a route around Whinlatter Forest and if you are up for an adventure either swim, kayak, paddle board or even sail the length of Derwent Water. Full details can be found at lakedistrictfoundation.org

Heather Askew, Fundraiser for the Lake District Foundation notes the challenge is open to everyone. Heather saidThe challenge is about completing 5km anyway you like, walk, jog, cycle – it doesn’t matter how long it takes, it’s simply completing the 5km distance. We hope the routes we’ve put together for this special weekend will encourage more people to give it a go, donate and spread the word”.

The charity team will be supported by volunteers from Lions and Rotary to carry out the street collections on the weekend and take your donations for your 5km challenge. In addition, look out for the Lake District Foundation stand in Keswick Town Centre as they’ll be offering an exciting virtual reality experience of flying through the Lake District which is not to be missed and selling special branded t-shirts and bags donated by Lakeland Embroidery.

The funds raised will go towards reconnecting the Keswick to Threlkeld railway path, some parts of which were severely damaged during the floods in 2015.

Two of the old railway bridges that crossed the River Greta were washed away and one bridge left at risk of collapse and around 200 metres of the path surface disappeared into the floodwaters.

In December 2017 the LDNPA were delighted to announce a major funding boost to the project – a £2.5 million grant from Highways England and a partnership with the Lake District Foundation to jointly fundraise the shortfall of around £3 million.

Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Path

The 6-month fundraising campaign to raise funds for the reconnection of the Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Path is now complete and we are pleased to announce that a total of over £130,000 has been raised.

Following the floods in December 2015, the Keswick to Threlkeld Railway path suffered serious damage. Two of the old railway bridges that crossed the River Greta and around 200 metres of the path surface were washed away, and Rawsome Bridge was left at risk of collapse.

The campaign was supported by the local community, with businesses, residents, visitors and organisations all playing their part. Donation boxes and campaign materials were displayed in 72 local businesses and many of these business carried out additional fundraising events including quiz nights, selling special products, and taking part in the K2T 5k challenge.

Local businesses boosted the fundraising campaign considerably including a generous donation from HF Holidays. One of their country houses, Derwent Bank, is situated close to the path where several walking routes from the house were are affected by the damage caused by Storm Desmond. HF Holidays donated £20,000 to the campaign. 

Community organisations also got involved, making donations and holding events, including a railway path walk by Braithwaite School which raised over £300 and a national fell running event hosted by Keswick Athletic Club which raised £1,250 from proceeds. On midsummers day, with the support of Keswick Scouts, Keswick Anglers, Keswick Lions, Keswick Town Council and the Love the Lakes shop, a duck race raised a further £1,300 for the campaign.

As part of the campaign The Lake District Foundation hosted its first ever charity auction night and raised over £8,600 from 40 lots. Local businesses and celebrities donated fantastic prizes including a day on the Lake District Fells with Alan Hinkes OBE; the first Briton to climb the world’s highest mountains, the fourteen 8,000m peaks. The Lodore Falls Hotel & Spa kindly donated the venue, canopies, reception drinks and £20 per booking to the campaign.

Members of the public could donate online, by cash, cheque, or Text Giving throughout the campaign and 6 local residents set up sponsored events of their own. Adam Bazire, owner of the Threlkeld Coffee Shop, has raised over £2,300 to date or his challenge to walk the full route of the old railway from Penrith station to the former Keswick station.

Latest News

Full steam ahead for the reconnection of the Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Path as Funding is Announced

Keep up to date on the latest developments, news and stories about the build, please visit the Lake District National Park news section here.

 

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