Cumbria Wildlife Trust news


“We have damaged our rivers, built too many roads and lost too many ponds and meadows. All of this has happened because our systems and laws that should be keeping nature healthy are failing, and we are losing touch with wildlife. Everything is becoming disconnected.


“As a society we know how to put meanders back into straightened rivers and how to build bridges for wildlife. We know which wild places we should be protecting and expanding. But we need ambitious new laws to ensure we do this, laws that ensure we map out nature’s recovery.


“Meanwhile we can all make a practical difference. If you have a window sill or balcony you can put up bird feeders or


plant pots of wildflowers. If you have a garden it is easy to dig a small pond or make holes in your fence for hedgehogs to wander through. It is not too difficult to take up paving slabs to let plants grow to feed our bees.


“Together we can make the next chapter for wildlife a happier one. Join us to put nature into recovery.”


Cumbria Wildlife Trust is fighting to protect and restore wild places and wildlife across the county.


We believe a key task for us here in Cumbria is to forge new partnerships and alliances with farmers and landowners to put nature into recovery


across Cumbria. Please see www.wildlifetrusts.org/farming which explains why we believe the first Agriculture Bill in 40 years needs to work for both wildlife and farmers.


Read our proposals for a Nature Recovery Network. This would put space for nature at the heart of our farming and planning systems. We need new laws, including an Environment Act passed by the Westminster Governments, to ensure nature receives the protection it so urgently needs. Only then can we turn nature’s recovery from an aspiration to a reality. Read more www.wildlifetrusts. org/nature-recovery-network and turn to page 42 to read more about our campaign.


In memory


Graham Mathews Graham joined the Kirkby Lonsdale Local Support Group in 1989 and remained active until he retired from it in 2009. He served as a trustee for several years until 2003, and in 2012 was awarded a Golden Badger’s Paw award for services to wildlife. Graham led walks and gave slide shows for local groups, usually on flowers. He and his wife Marion set themselves the task of finding and identifying all the orchid species that grow in Cumbria. Laterbarrow and Waitby Greenriggs were among Graham's favourite nature reserves. Graham had a vast collection of slides and photos, some of which have been giſted to the Trust at Graham’s request.


 A very typical pose of Graham photographing


a dark-green helleborine  Margaret loved her meadow and had a fantastic knowledge of wildflowers


Colin Reynolds Colin was a founder member of the Kendal Local Support Group who undertook a number of projects, including a tree nursery at Dog Kennel Wood, Serpentine Woods Nature Trail, starting a Wildlife Watch group and recording Wildlife Sites in the Kendal area. He was involved with the group right up to his death in December 2018. He served as a trustee for several years until 2003 and was awarded a Golden Badger’s Paw award in 2011. Colin was an expert on Lake Windermere with a high-profile career working in freshwater biology, mainly based at Ferry House on the shore of Windermere. He was well known in the Kendal area as he also served as a town and district councillor for many years, as well as Kendal mayor in the early 90s.


 Colin, pictured second leſt, at the Kendal Local Support Group’s 10th Anniversary celebration


Margaret Albon of Kirkby Stephen Margaret has been hugely active in the life of Cumbria Wildlife Trust for many years. She first became a member in 1985 and moved to Cumbria 10 years later. She was the first Chair of the Upper Eden Local Support Group when it formed in 1997 and remained active with the group for the rest of her life. Over many years, she served as a Trustee, was chair of Development Commitee and served on the editorial board for Cumbrian Wildlife. She was also a key figure in the promotion of the importance of legacy giſts for wildlife.


Margaret was a very active volunteer on projects such the Wildlife in Sacred Places and the Ancient Tree projects. She owned a meadow, which she restored with the Trust through our hay meadow project, and oſten led walks for others to enjoy the spectacular meadows of the Kirkby Stephen area. Margaret was awarded a Badger’s Paw Award and became a Vice President in 2007 to recognise the contribution she had made to wildlife and our organisation.


“I hugely appreciate the wonderful nature reserves I have visited; the many good friends I have made; the interesting courses I have atended – without the Trust my life would be very empty”. Margaret Albon.


Margaret was always happy, friendly and upbeat. She will be hugely missed by us all.


www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk 7


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44