Lake District's tree planting scheme to begin this winter

The project will see 16,500 trees planted or protected over the next three years at Wild Haweswater, a partnership between the RSPB and United Utilities, near Bampton in the Lake District.

The project will extend the temperate rainforest of Naddle Forest, a habitat type that was once common across Britain.

The scheme will see native species such as Sessile Oak, Rowan, and Juniper planted or protected.

Glen Swainson at Wild Haweswater (Image: Lee Schofield)

The work will be funded by Defra through a Countryside Stewardship Scheme.

Glen Swainson, the new RSPB site manager at Wild Haweswater, said: "I’m looking forward to leading the groundbreaking conservation work here at Wild Haweswater.

"By protecting temperate rainforest, restoring upland plants and returning natural processes, Wild Haweswater is a place where wildlife can thrive; from red squirrels to salmon, to Pied Flycatchers, rare lichens, and the recently recolonised Marsh Fritillary butterfly, this mountainous landscape holds a richness of life."

Glen Swainson surveying for Bog Orchids at Wild Haweswater (Image: David Morris)

He said: "England’s temperate rainforests are precious, and we need to do all we can to restore and protect them for future generations.

"They are wet wonderful places, full of life.

"And not only that they are a great store of carbon."

Naddle Forest alongside Haweswater Reservoir (Image: RSPB Images)

The nursery at Wild Haweswater has recently been doubled in size, making it the largest native tree and plant nursery in the Lake District.

A total of 30,000 plants of about 50 different native species are being grown at the nursery.

The Naddle Forest (Image: Mark Williamson)

Since 2011, 200,000 native trees have been planted on site, 200 hectares of peat bog has been restored, 1 km of river has been re-wiggled, and 30 hectares of species-rich wildflower hay meadow has been revived.

Mr Swainson will now be leading a team of 18 staff and around 40 passionate volunteers.

The Naddle Forest (Image: Spike Webb)

Events and experiences for the public will be expanded, along with knowledge sharing with those from across the agriculture, water, and conservation sectors.

He said: "During my career in conservation I have worked in different places in England, but being able to come home to Cumbria to work here has been a dream come true.

Glen Swainson (Image: Annabel Rushton)

"Particularly to help nature recover on a landscape scale, in my home county where I grew up, that I have a deep connection to, is important to me."

Wild Haweswater is also part of two ambitious landscape programmes, that extend beyond the site’s borders, (Lake District Eastern Fells and Cumbria Connect).

Working with neighbouring farmers and landowners, these projects are creating a connected corridor of land from Penrith to Kendal, delivering benefits to wildlife by creating and enhancing habitats, as well as benefits to society by improving drinking water quality, storing carbon in the fight against climate change and helping to reduce flood and drought risk.

Andrew Wright, woodland officer for United Utilities in Cumbria, said: "We don’t really think of having rainforests in this country but due to our warm, wet temperate climate, they once covered much larger areas of the UK.

The Naddle Forest (Image: Mark Williamson)

"Naddle Forest at Wild Haweswater is one of the fragments we have left so it’s crucial to protect and enhance it.

"By planting trees to extend the remaining woodland, we’re creating future rainforest, which has multiple benefits.

"Haweswater reservoir supplies over 2 million people in Cumbria and the Northwest with their daily drinking water, so the trees help provide natural filtration to improve the water quality."

Work also began earlier this year to restore the Spinning Barn at Wild Haweswater, funded by FCC Communities Fund and private donors. It is due to be completed in 2025.