Cumbrian Lakes and Dales
Planning for a nature-led future in northern England.
This planning grant explored how to restore 19,000 ha of upland and lowland habitats in Cumbria’s lakes and dales. The region contains internationally important areas of heath, meadows, woodlands and wetlands, yet these are now fragmented, with iconic species such as pine marten and black grouse no longer present. Meadows have been replaced by monocultures, rivers polluted, and fells denuded.
Cumbria, England, UK
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)
September 2019-March 2022
USD$ 81,482
19,000 ha
Upland heath, alpine meadow, ancient woodland, fens, rivers
Pine marten, black grouse (formerly present)
Why This Landscape Matters
The pied flycatcher is a summer migrant whose UK populations – now concentrated in western oak woodlands – are of high conservation importance due to national declines.
Cumbria’s landscapes support rich biodiversity and provide water, carbon storage and flood protection. They also underpin local communities and livelihoods. Yet decades of intensive land use have left wildlife confined to small protected sites, and ecosystem functions weakened across much of the wider landscape.
What the Project Did
The grant worked with local people, landowners and institutions to design a landscape-scale plan for nature recovery. The grant delivered:
Collaborative mapping of opportunities to reconnect fragmented habitats.
A shared framework to link healthy ecosystems with a thriving economy.
A restoration vision for 19,000 ha that integrates ecological, social and economic priorities.
Proposals to restore rivers, woodlands, fens and meadows alongside sustainable rural livelihoods.
Looking Ahead
This work has helped partners successfully apply for a landscape restoration grant from the Endangered Landscapes & Seascapes Programme. The new project, Cumbria Connect, is now carrying forward restoration at scale.
Find out about the Cumbria Connect project
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