whinlatter natural environment...
Whinlatter Forest Park (NY 208 245)
Braithwaite,
CA12 5TW
England’s only true mountain forest, Whinlatter is just west of Keswick and is a great day out for everyone. The forest has walking trails of varying lengths to suit all abilities, giving you lovely views across Bassenthwaite Lake and Derwent Water, Skiddaw, Grisedale Pike and to Helvellyn. It is home to the Lake District Osprey Project which runs from April to September as well as a range of other wonderful wildlife such as red squirrels, woodland birds and deer. The Whinlatter WildPlay trail is a unique play trail for children, with 9 different play zones to explore through the trees. If you're a mountain biker, try the Altura or Quercus trails, which make full use of the stunning mountain setting. Or if you’ve got a head for heights, swing through the trees on the Go-Ape course. The team at the Visitor Centre and Forest Shop can help you plan your day and sell forest maps and a range of quality gifts. Siskins Café offers home cooked food in a lovely setting, with great views of Grisedale Pike from its balcony. Cyclewise is the onsite bike shop and hires out bike as well as selling a range of bikes and kit, and running mountain bike training courses..
Lake District Osprey Project
In 2001, ospreys returned to the Lake District after an absence of over 150 years. Every year since then, the birds have reared their young on a specially built nesting platform in Wythop Woods overlooking Bassenthwaite Lake; that is until 2008, when the birds unexpectedly moved to a new nest site. There are now two viewpoints in Dodd Wood, with telescopes and Osprey Project staff on hand from 10.00 to 5.00 every day (early April to end of September*) to provide information. The lower viewpoint is a 10-minute walk uphill from the car park at Mirehouse, with the option of ascending to the upper viewpoint. Alternatively, visitors can see the ospreys on a video link at Whinlatter Visitor Centre*Telephone 017687 78469 for actual dates, as the arrival and departure of the ospreys cannot be predicted in advance.
Red Squirrels
Whinlatter Forest is one of 16 areas designated as reserves for the endangered red squirrel. The Forestry Commission is closely working with Red Alert to ensure that populations are maintained within the reserve by providing optimum conditions for their survival. The Visitor Centre at Whinlatter has displays on red squirrels and a video link to feeding stations (during the winter season).
Hay Meadows
At one-third of a hectare, Sandy Beck Meadow (NY 135 268) is England's smallest National Nature Reserve - a surviving fragment of a flower-rich hay meadow. The meadow has not been ploughed in living memory and displays a rich assemblage of plants in spring and early summer (which in turn attract insects, birds and small mammals). The site is now sensitively managed by Natural England to retain its floristic diversity. Nearby at Cold Kell (NY 148 224), Cumbria Wildlife Trust is creating a new wildflower meadow. The field has been sown with native wild flowers, and a traditional regime of hay cutting and cattle grazing is helping to increase the floral species on the site.
Lorton Yew (NY 162 255)
Behind the village hall is a venerable yew tree said to be over 1000 years old, immortalised by Wordsworth in his poem ‘Yew Trees'.
George Fox, the 17th century Quaker, preached under it in 1653, and remarked:
‘a yew tree so full of people that I feared they would break it down.'
After being struck by lightning, the tree is now much reduced in size.
