LookWild: Restoring the Lake District’s Woodlands to New Heights

On a day of muddy boots, bracken bashing and tree tagging, the woodlands of Haverthwaite Heights are being carefully restored.

Follow Lake District National Park Authority’s Woodlands Officer, Olivia Wass, who joins forces with Working Class Heroes and Cumbria Woodlands to help boost woodland diversity and support natural regeneration.

Working Together for Woodland Recovery

In April I spent a woodland management day out with Working Class Heroes and Cumbria Woodlands at Haverthwaite Heights.

We focused on bracken bashing as part of our ongoing strategy to control bracken growth to help encourage natural regeneration and boost the diversity of woodland flora.

We also carried out an inspection of the trees planted a few years ago, identifying and marking those that hadn’t survived, so they can be replanted during the upcoming winter planting season.

Protecting Trees

The team reused the protective tubes from the failed trees to help protect any new natural regeneration coming through, with Oak and Rowan being the most common species.

For the trees that are thriving, we ensured each was standing straight and healthy, removing any competing vegetation, such as honeysuckle, that could hinder their growth and development.

It was a lovely day out in the woods, and it was great to see the woodland floor coming to life with spring flora.

The ground was covered in a beautiful mix of bluebells, wild garlic, dog’s mercury, wood sorrel, lesser celandine, yellow archangel and so many more – a real reminder of the richness and diversity we’re working to protect and nurture!

About Working Class Heroes

Working Class Heroes (WCH) is an independent clothing shop based in Ulverston, which is also actively involved in getting out in the local environment. James from WCH said:

Here at WCH, we don’t just sell t-shirts. We also quite like to get out in the field (or woodland) and get stuck in with some environmental work to improve conditions in our very own local area. Alongside Cumbria Woodlands, the Lake District National Park, and The Coppice Co-op, the WCH team is always keen to lend a hand because it beats staring at Excel spreadsheets or answering emails.

“We joined up with the LDNPA and Cumbria Woodlands to do some bracken bashing and tree tagging. We tackled some invasive bracken using sticks to bash the young stems—this is to slow its spread and give the recently planted saplings a better chance to grow. While out there, we also helped conduct a sapling survey, checking tree tubes and marking empty or dead ones for replanting in the winter.

“Over the past few years, the team has spent considerable time at one of our local woodlands near Haverthwaite. Owned by the Lake District National Park Authority, the Haverthwaite Heights area is an important woodland in need of restoration to become more dynamic, diverse, and resilient.”