Join the Green Lancaster team on an ECOWild practical field trip to Lowther Estate and contribute to regenerative land-management practices to increase biodiversity.

As part of this field excursion, we will join Conservation Officer Jim Bliss. Eight hundred and fifty years ago, the earliest known member of the Lowther family established himself in the corner of Cumbria that is now known as the Lowther Estate. While the Estate has grown and fluctuated, Lowther has been guided over the past centuries by an abiding will to stay ahead of the times. Today, it is managed in a way that promotes a more natural environment where biodiversity and species richness increases.  To promote natural regeneration and create a more diverse range of habitats for our birds, insects and mammals, we use our graziers as ecosystem engineers.

In the morning, we will contribute to the restoration of wetland habitats for water voles by planting wetland flowering plants. We will also learn about regenerative land-management practices being implemented on site, ranging from wildflower meadow creation and the reintroduction of native keystone species such as the beaver. After a lunch break, we will spend some time exploring the Estate, with its low number and diversity of grazing animals such as longhorn cattle, ponies, Tamworth pigs and red deer, as well as its historic castle. 

All volunteers joining this field trip will need to bring warm and waterproof clothing, sturdy footwear such as hiking boots, as well as a packed lunch and warm drink. It will be possible to borrow equipment from Green Lancaster if necessary.

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 25th April.

Our ECOWild field trips are a real opportunity and privilege to experience the great outdoors and contribute to significant projects across the country that tackle the climate and ecological emergencies. If you have booked a place but are no longer able to attend, please cancel your ticket to enable someone else to benefit from this opportunity. These trips are popular. We want as many of you to be able to benefit from them, please help us do so.