The Trust is keen to encourage biodiversity on the land it owns while permitting some public access. It has worked at its properties with several conservation organisations to achieve this.
Lake Bank.
The 2.5-acre Boon Wood is at the northern end of Lake Bank. In the past it has been grazed and the mature oak and birch trees had little understory of shrubs and wild flowers. In November 2021 Storm Arwen uprooted and damaged many trees in the wood. Peter Leeson from the Woodland Trust met with trustees on site to advise on ways to increase biodiversity. As a result fallen trees have been kept in situ, the woodland has been fenced and with the help of a local project a variety of trees and shrubs including aspen, rowan, hawthorn, hazel, crab apple and dog rose have been planted. A notice has been put on the gate to explain this conservation project.
Blea Brows.
This is an ecologically rich area with birch, willow and alder trees on the wetter ground and predominantly oak and birch on the drier and rocky areas. Limited grazing from deer and sheep allows some natural regeneration and trustees have planted rowan and wild cherry throughout the drier area. Extra reed beds have also been planted along part of the lakeshore to protect this threatened habitat.
Old Railway Line.
The trees along the railway embankment have been neglected over many years. Storms have damaged branches and uprooted whole trees and some of the ash trees are suffering from dieback. Cumbria Woodlands kindly advised the Trust on managing the site to encourage biodiversity. As the line is a popular walking route the Trust arranged to remove some dying and overhanging trees for safety and to create more open areas to plant with shrubs including dogwood, dog rose, hazel and hawthorn and a variety of wildflowers.