Friends of the Lake District

31/10/2026

Now this one's a little tricker ...

Another stunning landscape from our 2027 calendar
https://loom.ly/9vCYMOs

Image credit: Stephen Reid

30/10/2026

A big well done to our engagement trainee Stephanie Gardiner for winning Young Changemaker of the Year at yesterday's Campaign to Protect Rural England awards. Very well deserved!

30/10/2026

Not long now to go until Fell Care Day!

Fell Care Days are a mass volunteer day filled with a sense of shared purpose, fun, camaraderie and most importantly, lots of cake to help fuel everyone through their task!🍰

We're meeting at Sedbergh Peoples Hall on Thursday 12 November!

Find out more information including how to book via our website.
https://loom.ly/PaCcSOo

29/10/2026

Recognise it? This one's an easy one.

Keep your eyes peeled for more iconic views from our 2027 calendar, available now
https://loom.ly/9vCYMOs

Image credit: Fred Bell

28/10/2026

What does a Cumbrian Mayor mean for the county?

Find out at our 2026 Kirby Lecture.

We'll be joined by Thomas Andrew, Acting Director of Policy and Strategy for the Cumbria Combined Authority, who will explain the role and powers of the combined authority, what the mayoral system means for Cumbria, and how governance in the county is set to change.

Then a panel of leading voices from across Cumbria’s community and environmental sectors will lay out their priorities for the county’s first mayor and what they hope the successful candidate will deliver. Audience members will have an opportunity to put their questions to the panel.

Panel members include:
Lorrainne Smyth, CEO of ACTion with Communities in Cumbria
Karen Mitchell, CEO of Futureproof Cumbria
Stephen Trotter, CEO of Cumbria Wildlife Trust
Colin Walker, CEO of Friends of the Lake District

The discussion will be chaired by Tiffany Hunt MBE, former National Trust regional director and former Chair of the Lake District National Park Authority.

Tickets are limited so book now: www.friendsofthelakedistrict.org.uk/kirbylecture2026

27/10/2026

Calling all Hedgerow Heroes! We need your help to plant and restore 6km of hedgerow across Cumbria this winter!

November volunteer dates now open in areas close to Kendal and Penrith, with many more on the way. No experience necessary.

Book now: https://loom.ly/hfm6VNM

Photos: Jonny Gios Photography

Big thanks to our partners! Campaign to Protect Rural England Lake District National Park Yorkshire Dales National Park The Tree Council The Lake District Foundation Cumbria Community Foundation The Woodland Trust

Find what’s coming up, book your place, and discover simple ways to take action for nature and people.

26/10/2026

Just one of the stunning images from our 2027 Calendar - all profits go back into the Lake District landscapes.

Get yours today ...
https://loom.ly/9vCYMOs

Image credit: Haystacks, Mark Hetherington

24/10/2026

Hedgerow webinar - to cut or not to cut?

It’s at this time of year that hedges are booked in for their annual trim, but how soon should you cut? What are the pro’s and con’s of trimming hedgerows early or later on? Should you even trim them at all? Our webinar explores it all.

We invited hedgerow experts Nigel Adams (full-time hedge layer and consultant with over 45 years of experience in countryside management), Megan Gimber (key habitats officer for People's Trust for Endangered Species aka. massive hedge geek!), and James Robinson (fifth-generation organic dairy farmer and skilled hedge layer) to join us online so we could hash it out. Watch it on our website:

https://loom.ly/yd4CVbY

23/10/2026

Should pop up campsites require a planning application?

We’ve been using the evidence collected from our pop up campsite survey to press the Lake District National Park (LDNPA) to consider introducing what's called an "Article 4 Direction" to require camp site operators to submit a planning application where all issues (positive and negative) can be considered. The majority of pop up campsites are operating without issue, however there are a few which are causing problems.

In October’s LDNPA Committee meeting they agreed to progress an Article 4 Direction and are undergoing a public consultation about the issue. You can read more on the LDNPA website where there’s an invitation to make your views known. Here's a link: https://loom.ly/aWNoTQU

We certainly don’t want to see a ban on pop up campsites as we recognise the benefits they can bring, we just want a process to be put in place, as there is in other parts of the country such as the New Forest National Park and parts of Cornwall, where any negative impacts can be addressed.

22/10/2026

3 weeks to go until this years Fell Care Day!

Fell Care Days are a mass Volunteer day filled with a sense of shared purpose, fun, camaraderie and most importantly, lots of cake to help fuel everyone through their task!🍰

Find out more information including how to book via our website.
https://loom.ly/PaCcSOo