Join the Green Lancaster team for the first ECOWild practical field trip of this year. Restoring Hardknott Forest is a partnership project led by the University of Leeds and Forestry England aiming to restore one of the largest conifer plantations in the Lake District National Park to native woodland. The project is being designed and implemented as a natural climate solution with specific benefits to nature and people.

As part of this field excursion, we will join Project Officer John Hodgson in the remote Duddon Valley (Western Lake District). After a site introduction and briefing, we will walk along forest tracks to the work site (approximately 45 minutes walking time). The task will include removal of non-native and self-seeded Sitka Spruce, to enable neighbouring naturally regenerating native broadleaf trees to grow as part of the native woodland restoration. We will remove the spruce using hand tools such as loppers and pruning saws (provided on site). 

All volunteers joining this field trip will need to bring warm and waterproof clothing, sturdy footwear such as hiking boots and a packed lunch. Please note this activity requires a reasonable level of fitness due to the terrain, planned activities and walking distance to the work site. Please contact the Green Lancaster team on green@lancaster.ac.uk if you have any questions related to accessibility requirements.

Full details will be circulated by e-mail to all registered volunteers during the week commencing 6th December.