Annual Review April 2024 – March 2025
Note from the Chair
Welcome to Friends of the Lake District's Annual Review.
You’ll find lots of information about our achievements over the last 12 months on the following pages, but I would like to highlight a few to demonstrate the range of activities delivered by the team. The need to challenge, including by way of Judicial Review, the decision to approve a zipwire attraction in Elterwater and the efforts to prevent the development of a large-scale holiday park at Roanhead on the Furness coast, demonstrates that the protection of tranquillity, areas of outstanding natural beauty and the Lake District’s UNESCO World Heritage status should not be taken for granted.
In addition to pursuing these highprofile cases, the team continues to make a significant contribution to achieving our aims by challenging other inappropriate developments, making recommendations which reduce the adverse impact of planning applications and contributing to the strategic Development Plan for the National Park and our two county councils. We recognise the needs of our communities and those who live and work within the Lake District and,
in keeping with the aims of those who created Friends in 1934, we continue to argue for appropriate affordable housing (and now, we also argue for environmentally sustainable housing.)
The land we own across Cumbria provides access to those who wish to enjoy it, promotes sustainable and environmentally friendly farming, and improves biodiversity. The project at Dam Mire Wood in Threlkeld, which began last year, is a great example of what can be achieved with a relatively small area. It is particularly pleasing to see the work being done to engage with the local community, giving children from the local school the chance to appreciate and learn about nature.
There is a conflict between the desire to make the Lake District accessible to all and the need to protect the very things which make it so special. Tourism plays a vital role in supporting local economies, but poorly supported tourism puts pressure on local communities and the landscape, and undermines the visitor experience. We are proud of the fact that we commissioned the report ‘Who Pays for the Lake District?’. The report has kick-started the debate over how the problems associated with visitor numbers and private vehicle
journeys might be managed through the introduction of the types of visitor levies used across the world in areas experiencing similar pressures. One thing is certain, funding to the national park and local authorities will not be exempt from wider cutbacks in public spending. It is good practice to question the relevance of a charitable organisation. Given the challenges facing the Lake District (I have not even mentioned the need to clean up our waterways, lakes and the sea, or the threat of pylons being reintroduced), I hope that you will agree with me in concluding that Friends is increasingly relevant.
Malcolm Boswell, Chair Friends of the Lake District
April 2024 – March 2025
Our Year in Numbers and Pictures
Our annual Kirby Lecture took place in October. Panellists took part in a debate about what the Lake District will be like in 2051, when the National Park turns 100 years old.
638 pieces
The amount of cake consumed by people attending our events and volunteer workparties.
606ha
97
7
The number of virtual tours we launched last year exploring our land
23.5m
The length of dry stone wall that volunteers helped rebuild during workparties and at the Fell Care Day.
The number of registered active volunteers
In April 2024, we held our first volunteer awards event at the Windermere Jetty Museum.
The approximate total size of the 12 pieces of land we look after across Cumbria (that’s more than 6km2).
2,585
Our annual Fell Care Day took place in and around Coniston in December 2024. 40 volunteers repaired 3.5m of dry stone wall, cleared one acre of rhododendron plants, and helped maintain 5km of bridleway.
The number of hours contributed by volunteers on our land – planting hedges and helping us out in the office, for example. That’s an
that there are no litter fairies in the Lake District. Our Facebook posts reached nearly 150,000 people.
The number of children we worked with from schools and Scout groups, delivering practical conservation days on our land, hedgeplanting, biodiversity lessons and forest school sessions.
In June 2024 we held a political hustings event in Ambleside where prospective parliamentary candidates debated issues included in our recently published Manifesto for the Landscape.
In 2024, Friends of the Lake District turned 90 years old! To celebrate, we held our AGM in Keswick and members gathered near the place in Fitz Park, Keswick, where the founding members started the charity.
The number of events we held, including guided walks, dark skies talks, litter picking, conservation days, forest schools, rural skills competitions and training, hedgeplanting, volunteer taster sessions, Fell Care Day, and webinars.
In October, we joined Matt Staniek and the Save Windermere campaign to celebrate a year of their weekly protests outside United Utilities’ information centre following unacceptable levels of pollution in the lake.
The approximate number of times we appeared in print, online, on the radio, or on TV.
The number of new members we welcomed
In March 2025, family members gathered at Dam Mire Wood to unveil a memorial bench and table dedicated to their late sister, Judy Sugdon, and her husband, John. The inscription on the bench reads: Take a moment to sit and enjoy this beautiful landscape. In memory of Judy and John Sugdon.
Photo: © Chris Lewis Photography
Spotlight on Hedgerows
There are estimated to be 360,000 miles of hedgerows across England, of which approximately 12,500 miles are within Cumbria (3.5%).
But, since the 1950s, 118,000 miles of hedgerows have been lost across the UK – so we need to get planting again. That’s why Friends of the Lake District began a nature recovery project called Hedges and Edges, which includes various training and volunteer days to help get hedgerows thriving once more. Here’s a taste of what’s been achieved so far.
We ran three mass-volunteering days at Alpacaly Farm at Basecamp North, near Keswick, during which more than 100 volunteers helped plant 700 meters of hedgerow. The project was supported by Alpacaly Social Enterprise, The Quiet Site, and Ullswater Community Interest Company.
We organised two Healthy Hedgerow Survey Training Days with People’s Trust for Endangered Species and Ernest Cook Trust. The training took place at Low Beckside Farm (north Cumbria) and Low Sizergh Farm (south Cumbria) and attracted 54 people, the majority of whom (80%) were farmers or landowners.
Our annual Hedgelaying Competition took place at Low Sizergh Farm, supported by the Lancashire and Westmorland Hedgelaying Association. 22 Competitors across all skill levels took part and over 140 spectators joined us. The Chair of the National Hedgelaying Society gave out the prizes.
“Your organisation and hospitality were really appreciated! I think I speak for all who took part, if I said how grateful I am that there are organisations and individuals such as yourself, who are willing to put in the
Attendee feedback forms given to People’s Trust for Endangered Species:
100% of attendees said they understood hedge management better than before the workshop.
75% were more likely to plant hedges, with 22% saying maybe.
95% were more likely to establish hedge trees than before.
92% were more likely to improve their hedge management based on the workshop.
95% more confident about managing hedges than before.
“It was really useful and I really learnt a lot. Useful practical ideas and some very interesting information which I can now apply and try to build on. So glad I came on the course and a big thank you to all your colleagues who provided the learning for the day.”
– Healthy Hedgerow farmer attendee
A volunteer at Basecamp North
Jack and kids at Basecamp North
Volunteers hedgeplanting at Basecamp North
time and effort to make events like this happen… I had such a good experience of my first competition that I’m planning to go down to Garstang next month for another go at the Forest of Bowland competition. Will certainly aim to get to Gowbarrow Hall next year too.”
– First-time hedgelaying competitor.
We held two Hedgelaying Training Days, one at Low Beckside Farm (north Cumbria) and one at Low Sizergh Farm (south Cumbria), which attracted 43 trainees from a diverse background including farmers, existing and new contractors, conservation volunteers and staff. We also had a half-day walk around Low Beckside Farm looking at Hedgerow Creation and Management which attracted 14 attendees.
Supporting NatureFriendly Farmers
In October last year we wrote to the Secretary of State for Defra, Steve Reed, to request an increase in payments for nature-friendly farming under the Higher Level Stewardship and other agri-environment schemes. At February’s National Farmers Union conference, he confirmed these HLS payments would rise.
We wrote to him again in January 2025, demanding that the Capital Grants scheme be re-opened to help farmers fund the planting of new hedges. Hedgerows are vital corridors for nature, plus they capture carbon and slow the flow of water in our fragile upland catchments. At the same conference, the Secretary of State announced that the Capital
Grants scheme would be re-opened, and the backlog of applications would be dealt with.
Friends of the Lake District’s CEO, Michael Hill said: “We believe that, with appropriate support from the Government, it is possible for farmers to produce food while protecting nature, addressing the climate emergency, and reducing flood risk. These announcements are a welcome move towards encouraging this kind of nature-friendly farming in our upland landscapes, and we are proud to stand with Cumbrian farmers to help achieve it.”
Most of the grants remain in place at time of writing, but the application process remains over-complex, particularly for hard-pressed upland farmers.
Hedgerows on Film
As part of our work around promoting the importance of hedgerows, we’ve commissioned a series of films highlighting best practice. The videos include interviews with Richard Park, a National Trust tenant farmer at Low Sizergh Farm; Danny Teasdale from the Ullswater Catchment Management Community Interest Company; Hector Meanwell, Farm Manager at the Low Beckside Farm; and Hedgelaying Contractor Andrew Kirkwood. There’s also a film about hedgerow planting and volunteering, and one featuring James Robinson, who farms at Strickley, near Kendal. The films are available to watch on our YouTube channel.
YOUTUBE youtube.com/@friendsofthelakes
A still from one of our hedgerow films
Support Our Nature Recovery Appeal Today
Our Hedges and Edges project is just one of the ways we’re fighting for nature in the Lake District and Cumbria. We’re working hard to make sure land is being effectively managed for nature and we’re campaigning for more government support for nature-friendly farming.
Currently just 6% of the land area in National Parks is managed effectively for nature. We are at serious risk of losing habitats, and even seeing species disappear entirely. But we can change this.
With your help over the next four years, we hope to plant and restore 32 miles of Cumbrian hedgerows, and train and empower over 100 farmers, landowners, and volunteers. More importantly, we’ll be working to change the way hedgerows are managed, as a valuable resource at the heart of nature-friendly farming practices.
If you also believe in nature and want to join the fight, then please donate to our appeal today: www.friendsofthelakedistrict. org.uk/naturerecoveryappeal
Peter Gibson, overall winner of our annual hedgelaying competition
Further Updates
A Year in Planning and Policy
Last year, we responded to 27 planning applications out of a total of 5,854 valid applications received by Cumbrian planning authorities. We objected to just 0.2% of applications. Our planning work continues to contribute to positive results. Of the planning applications that we expressed concerns about, or objected to, 37% were either refused or withdrawn, or approved once amended in response to our input. 33% of the applications that we responded to have not yet been decided, including the new car park at Ullock Moss, the luge track in the Eden Valley, and Roanhead proposals (see page 10). In addition, we responded to five applications relating to fencing on common land. We also responded to 19 consultations on a variety of topics. This included the Planning Reform White paper, changes to the National Planning Policy Framework, the National Transport Strategy, and the Yorkshire Dales National Park Local Plan. Responses were also made, among others, to consultations relating to the reform of the Bathing Waters regulations, guidelines for drought plans, Cumbria River Basins Management Plans, and the Independent Water Commission’s Call for Evidence.
While no Electricity North West projects to place wires underground took place between April 2024 and March 2025, we’re pleased to note that there are plans for further projects in the coming years, including on Little Asby Common. We also responded to an Ofgem consultation on the next Price Review period (2028-2032), stressing the importance of undergrounding for both improving the landscape view and climate resilience.
Our Campaigning Year
In May 2024, the Lake District National Park Authority approved plans to establish an adventure attraction at Elterwater Quarry, in the heart of the
Langdales. The Planning Committee had previously rejected the proposal, largely because the increase in traffic could choke the area's narrow, singletrack lanes, already under pressure from high numbers of visitors. Shortly after, we took the decision to seek a Judicial Review of the Planning Committee’s decision.
In November, we launched the report ‘Who Pays for the Lake District?’ written by sustainable tourism specialist, Dr Davina Stanford. The report identifies where tourism is creating an ‘invisible burden’ on the Lake District National Park’s landscape, environment and communities, and examines the ways that local authorities could raise money connected to tourism to make a positive difference to the area. The launch gained a lot of media attention including on BBC television and in the Guardian newspaper. A webinar in January 2025 on the topic attracted around 100 people and the online report has been read around 1,400 times so far.
A Year on Our Land
Last year, we launched an online survey to discover the true value of Hows Wood in Eskdale based on the many benefits it provides. Professor
Lois Mansfield of Environmentors Ltd is using data to write a report which will be published later in 2025. We also started working on a project with Plantlife regarding our Atlantic rainforest woodlands in the Rusland Valley. In 2024, we finalised the purchase of land next door to our existing Dam Mire Wood in Threlkeld and are working up plans for a network of ponds and some additional tree planting to increase biodiversity, slow the flow of water, and absorb carbon.
During the 35 volunteer workparties we held last year, we restored around 20m of dry stone wall, maintained 420m of hedgerow, and looked after over 30ha of woodland. We also ran four training days for volunteers covering topics such as pollinators, fungi, wildlife tracks, and geology.
Dark Skies
As well holding talks and events, such as the Big Switch-Offs in Ambleside, Grasmere and Keswick, our Dark Skies Officer helped facilitate around 10 dark-sky-compliant lighting projects last year. This included supporting Sedbergh Parish Council to install 22 darksky-friendly lights in the town (pictured). We continued to raise the profile of the Cumbria Good Lighting Technical Advice Note (TAN), responding to several applications where conflicts with the TAN were key concerns.
Fundraising and Finance
We ran two 90 th Birthday appeals last year: a Nature appeal and a Fighting Fund appeal, which supported our Elterwater campaign. A total of £46,763 was raised.
Sales of Christmas cards, calendars, notecards, tea towels, landscape gifts and art prints generated £26,472 last year.
Finance Figures for 2024/25
Total Income
£1,681,820 Income from Donations, Legacies, Membership Subscriptions and Grants
£1,548,546
Charitable Activities
£4,647 Trading Activities
£23,193 Investments
£105,184
Total Expenditure
£1,182,428 Generating Voluntary Income
£212,466 Charitable Activities
£940,704 Trading Activities
£6,000 Investment Management Costs
£14,407
Total Funds / Net Assets at 31 March 2025
£7,232,526
Tangible Assets* (including properties)
£3,177,490 Investments
£2,660,714 Net Current Assets
£1,394,322
The figures above are extracted from our 2024/25 audited accounts. A full annual report containing these accounts will be made available to download from www.friendsofthelakedistrict.org.uk and the charity commission website after the AGM on 20 September 2025.
*This year, trustees took the decision to re-value the fixed assets (land and property). Whilst this has made a significant positive difference to our balance sheet, we view the portfolio of land as a protected asset; an asset which is unlikely to ever materialise as cash.
Thank you
Thank you to our members, supporters and partner organisations for all their support during the last year. From generous donations to the hard work of our volunteers, we’re grateful for all the contributions we’ve received to help us protect and enhance Cumbrian landscapes.
We also wish to express our sincere gratitude to those who left a gift to Friends of the Lake District in their Will: Eileen Barton, Gordon Biddle, Joan Blundell, Margaret Ann Bousfield, Sheila Brandon, Sylvia Brockbank, Mark Cook, Audrey Dawson, Ellen Dougherty, Rosamund Euden, Gillian Featonby, Eileen Francis, Margaret Gaffney, Patricia Grenfell, Judith Helling, Betty Hinchliffe, David Hitchen, Joy Hutchings, Paul Langley, Rita Langman, John Latcham, Grahaeme Lauder, John Laycock, Donald Margerison, Mabel Markham, Muriel Metcalfe, Gloria Muchowski, J. Norrington, Barbara Peel, Ashley Pugh, Geoffrey Richardson, Brian Saunders, Pat Schwarzenbach, Margaret Taylor, Michael Thurman, William Wood, and Nancy Woof.
Leaving a gift in your Will is a wonderful way to ensure future generations can continue to enjoy the tranquillity and beauty of these special places. If you’d like to know more, please contact fundraising@fld.org.uk
We’d also like to thank and honour donations made in the memory of: Derek Arnold, Jean Cope, John Cousins, David Cutforth, Aileen Goodall, James Haddow, Tricia and Tony Rees, Trevor Shaw, Robert Somervell Jr. and Sr., John Wallace, and David Woodhead.
And finally, we’d like to thank our benefactors for their continued support: John Berry, James Brockbank and Louise Ronane, John Campbell, Richard Coates, Philip Cropper, Margaret Haigh, John Harris, Peter Hughes KC, John and Margaret Jackson, Brian Leigh-Bramwell, Rosamund Macfarlane, Matt and Taysia Malone, Jim and Sue Martin, and Elizabeth Reddaway.
149 people and nine dogs took part in the 2024 Morecambe Bay Walk on behalf of Friends, collectively raising over £4,570.
Friends of the Lake District is an independent charity and the only membership organisation dedicated to protecting and enhancing Cumbria's landscapes. Our vision is for thriving Cumbrian landscapes – for nature, for people, for ever.
• We campaign for landscapes that are tranquil, rich in cultural heritage and environmentally healthy.
• We inspire and mobilise people to work in partnership with us to protect and enhance these landscapes for generations to come.
• We lead by example in demonstrating sustainability and conservation on the land that we look after.
Donate:
Every penny you donate will go towards ensuring that we can continue to protect and enhance Cumbrian landscapes.
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Join Us: Become a member of Friends of the Lake District. Membership costs from just £2.75 a month and in return for your support, you’ll receive:
• Three copies of exclusive members’ magazine every year.
• Discounts on entry to historic Cumbrian attractions, outdoor clothing providers and other Lake District companies.
• Free walks, talks and events held throughout the year.
Scan the QR code to find out more about joining Friends of the Lake District today.
Friends of the Lake District, Oxenholme Road, Murley Moss, Kendal, LA9 7SS
Tel: 01539 720788 | Email: info@fld.org.uk | www.friendsofthelakedistrict.org.uk
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Friends of the Lake District represents CPRE – The Countryside Charity in Cumbria.
Images © Rannerdale Knotts: Mark Hetherington; Troutbeck: Mark Blowers
