Seeds from native broadleaved trees and shrub species are being collected to create a diverse woodland.
SKIDDAW AFTER ONE YEAR
Navigating permissions
Of course, big changes require big permissions. Skiddaw Forest is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Special Area of Conservation (SAC), designations that protect features of importance such as species, habitats and geology from damage. It’s our job to plan this project so we don’t negatively affect these features and to prove to Natural England that we won’t. Te baseline surveys go a long way towards this by showing what is on site currently, and we plan restoration works around what we find. We have already secured consent for initial activities from Natural England, and we are now working on securing Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) sign-off from the Forestry Commission. Tat process includes everything
from assessing the impact of plans on the ecology of the site, wildfire risk and historic features, as well as the visual impact of tree planting on the landscape. It’s complex, but these checks ensure we get it right and protect the features that make this place so valuable.
Looking ahead
Te restoration of Skiddaw Forest is an ambitious project. But with careful planning, science, public support and the right people in place, we can show that landscapes like this, for so long marginalised in regards of their wildlife, can be reborn and that wildlife can be given the space to recover and thrive. Tis year has been the first of many that will show we can give nature not just a chance, but a lasting future.
Pete Jones has been the Trust’s Skiddaw Forest Project Manager since January 2025. Pete has previously worked in nature reserve management at Cumbria Wildlife Trust for many years and most recently at RSPB Haweswater.
“It’s not just about planting trees, it’s about growing the right trees, in the right place, from the right seed. I’m developing a network of small nurseries, working with local partners and landowners to raise native tree species. It’s a long process, but it’s how you get resilient, diverse woodlands that reflect the true
character of a place like Skiddaw Forest.” Rowan Sharpe
Cumbrian Wildlife | November 2025 23
© RUTH ALCROFT
© ROWAN SHARPE
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
