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Restoring Hardknott Forest 🌎 @hardknottforest.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

Sometimes a picture can paint a thousand words. But not this picture, it's just Paddy pointing at cowclap.

Restoring Hardknott Forest 🌎 @hardknottforest.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

I thought I'd be getting home early the other day, but felt sorry for Paddy trying to sort this lot. I pulled over & tried to help with some arm waving & random noises. Him having named his sheepdog John (after me?) was confusing ("GET OUT OF IT JOHN you useless ******") but we got there in the end.

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Restoring Hardknott Forest 🌎 @hardknottforest.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Just before the school summer holidays we visited Broughton Primary School to work with a couple of classes and set up camera traps. This was a great follow up after they visited us at Hardknott Forest in the Spring.(lakedistrictfoundation.org/local-pupils...). See below for what turned up on cam.

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Restoring Hardknott Forest 🌎 @hardknottforest.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

It looks like flapjack's back on the menu. Volunteering restarted yesterday after a summer break, and that meant a well-deserved tasty treat for our vols. Caution may contain nuts!* *And that's just the volunteer group. (See we can do jokes, but we usually choose not to). Vol dates in bio.

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Restoring Hardknott Forest 🌎 @hardknottforest.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

It was interesting helping @universityofleeds.bsky.social researcher Ben collecting data last week. He's looking at the effect of tree canopy cover on temperature & soil moisture. More in our autumn newsletter. Sign up here: mailchi.mp/fab56d180ac7... @envleeds.bsky.social @leedsleaf.bsky.social

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Reposted by Restoring Hardknott Forest 🌎

Countryside Jobs Service @countrysidejobs.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

🌿 Could your love of the outdoors become your career? There are so many different ways to find your place in conservation and countryside management — and Ellie Watton’s story is a great example. buff.ly/WkAdGzX

A smiling person in hard hat and full PPE handing from ropes up a tree. Text reads: Could this be your career: finding your place in arboriculture

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Restoring Hardknott Forest 🌎 @hardknottforest.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Our volunteering & events page has just been updated with two new dates at the nursery (8th & 17th September) and spaces on most other events, including the dry stone walling days. Take a look & share if you can. @naturalengland.bsky.social @cumbriacvs.bsky.social bag.leeds.ac.uk/projects/res...

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Restoring Hardknott Forest 🌎 @hardknottforest.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

We're all set up at @krankenhausfest.bsky.social. Call in and say hello. You could try our feelybox (optional), or just find out more about what we do. Also we're doing a guided walk tomorrow (Saturday) and a talk (with added pine martens) on Sunday. Please share.

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Restoring Hardknott Forest 🌎 @hardknottforest.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Who doesn't like a bold water vole that loves the camera? 😍 We went along to the @forestryengland.bsky.social Wild Ennerdale site to see their release programme. Meanwhile we're planning our own before too long. Watch this water vole sized space. More water vole info ➡️ share.google/bF8fyK1dAXvj...

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Restoring Hardknott Forest 🌎 @hardknottforest.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

It's not all about me, but just pointing out I'm on the same bill as Stewart Lee! I've made it mum! I told you I'd do something with my life! Other entertainment is available at @krankenhausfest.bsky.social including a guided walk by Nature Rich Miterdale & our slightly interactive stall.

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Restoring Hardknott Forest 🌎 @hardknottforest.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Increasing wildflowers (species & number) is already having an impact in the Upper Duddon valley, and now we have a plant nursery it'll only get better. Seen recently...painted lady, garden bumble bee, speckled wood, meadow brown, peacock, brimstone. Dragonfly & hummingbird hawk moth videos below ⤵️

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Restoring Hardknott Forest 🌎 @hardknottforest.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

If Jack of Nature Rich Miterdale says he knows a short cut, our advice is to politely decline. In fact there's probably no need to be polite.

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Restoring Hardknott Forest 🌎 @hardknottforest.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

The Kickstarter campaign to help finish "A Simple Act", the documentary about us, has 12 more days to run and is a few £100 short. Please check out and share the link below, and donate if you can. Many thanks. www.kickstarter.com/projects/ony...

kickstarter.com

A Simple Act: Finishing a Film About Hardknott Forest

Follow a year in the life of Hardknott Forest as volunteers, researchers and local people work to rebuild a forest.

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Restoring Hardknott Forest 🌎 @hardknottforest.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

A lot of people are saying we don't have enough short films about juniper on our socials. Here's one which features 1695 of them. All carefully nurtured by staff & volunteers & gradually getting ready to be released into the wild. @leedsleaf.bsky.social @forestryjournal.bsky.social

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Restoring Hardknott Forest 🌎 @hardknottforest.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

Felling trees can be an emotional topic. The Royal Forestry Society have made a short video to promote understanding of the forestry sector. @leedsleaf.bsky.social @forestryengland.bsky.social youtu.be/SMUyqSZG6Xw?...

youtu.be

Branching Out: Healthy Trees Need Healthy People

YouTube video by Royal Forestry Society

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Restoring Hardknott Forest 🌎 @hardknottforest.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

A lot of people are saying we don't have enough coverage of electrofishing on our socials. Luckily for those people we were out with Hannah (South Cumbria Rivers Trust) this week. One 25m gill had 14 trout in it. More on e-fishing here: scrt.co.uk/what-we-do/m...

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Restoring Hardknott Forest 🌎 @hardknottforest.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

A lot of people are saying we don't have enough footage of helicopters on our socials. So here's a clip from our recent heli-lift of (local, larch) fence posts. These will keep Harter Fell sheep free & allow montane scrub and wildflowers to thrive. @forestryengland.bsky.social @leedsleaf.bsky.social

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Restoring Hardknott Forest 🌎 @hardknottforest.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Here's the car park at Hardknott Forest. The day before this we'd had a group from Millom School, there was a large DofE group & a large group from the local outdoor centre. Not a scrap of litter to be seen! Nice to share good news! (There were 2 dog poo bags though, from forgetful owners I expect).

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Restoring Hardknott Forest 🌎 @hardknottforest.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Summer newsletter out now: news on our first year of Landscape Recovery, lichens & temperate rainforests, update on our documentary, grassland monitoring and events & volunteering dates. @forestryengland.bsky.social @envleeds.bsky.social mailchi.mp/leeds.ac.uk/...

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Restoring Hardknott Forest 🌎 @hardknottforest.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

Did you know we're the subject of a feature-length documentary which after two years work is nearly finished? Neil Emery, the filmmaker, tells us all about it in the video below. @envleeds.bsky.social @leedsleaf.bsky.social @forestryengland.bsky.social youtu.be/CgoDqF6t2Nw?...

youtu.be

I'm Asking for Your Help to Finish My First Feature Documentary

YouTube video by Lake District Films

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Restoring Hardknott Forest 🌎 @hardknottforest.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

It's that time again. A lot of people/a few of you/no-one at all* have been asking when the next newsletter is out! Chill! It's on the way & includes our fave lichen, citizen science, meadow monitoring & a look at Year 1 of landscape recovery. *delete as applicable 📰➡️ mailchi.mp/1dd189bd3314...

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Restoring Hardknott Forest 🌎 @hardknottforest.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

Upper Duddon Landscape Recovery staff have been celebrating the first year as a project by showing groups the work done so far. Lots of river restoration, wildlife news, leaky dams, work on farms & the odd chat about larch. Follow us to keep up to date. @envleeds.bsky.social @leedsleaf.bsky.social

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Restoring Hardknott Forest 🌎 @hardknottforest.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

Climate researcher, global cycling legend, Hardknott volunteer and all-round good guy Ben Silver has an ongoing research project with us into "THE COOLING EFFECTS OF TREE COVER". Very topical this week, and his research is ongoing, with some earlier results here ⤵️ bag.leeds.ac.uk/projects/res...

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Restoring Hardknott Forest 🌎 @hardknottforest.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

Our monitoring officer Ishbel has been making the most of the weather to record the flowering plants we have in our grasslands. More about these in our next newsletter, for now just enjoy some of her photos alongside various invertebrates. Newsletter sign up here: bag.leeds.ac.uk/projects/res...

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Restoring Hardknott Forest 🌎 @hardknottforest.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

Maths fans will realise that removing 1000s of tree tubes, with two zip ties per tube, is a lot of zip ties. Probably about double. As they are reusable, (but can't be recycled along with the tubes) we are offering them free to a good home. Get in touch - they literally have 103 uses. Or more.

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Restoring Hardknott Forest 🌎 @hardknottforest.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

What have we achieved in the first year of the Upper Duddon Landscape Recovery project? Come to one of our site tours and find out. Booking links on our events page here: bag.leeds.ac.uk/projects/res... @universityofleeds.bsky.social @lakedistrictnpa.bsky.social @leedsleaf.bsky.social

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Restoring Hardknott Forest 🌎 @hardknottforest.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

We ran a couple of volunteer walling days last week. Really good quality work from both groups thanks to top teaching from Steve @nationaltrust.org.uk. Get the newsletter for info on future events: mailchi.mp/1dd189bd3314... @lanss-uk.bsky.social @cumbriacvs.bsky.social

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Restoring Hardknott Forest 🌎 @hardknottforest.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

Exciting to see red squirrels & pine martens in the same woodland. This would once have been a common site in Cumbria. We saw many examples of this in the pine marten donor site in the Scottish Highlands. This camera was set up by Millom School pupils, the wildlife experts of the future.

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Restoring Hardknott Forest 🌎 @hardknottforest.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

There are spaces left to help get plastic tree tubes off the fell and allow a new woodland to thrive. We saw a red squirrel here last week. www.trybooking.com/uk/GIEE

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Restoring Hardknott Forest 🌎 @hardknottforest.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

Perfect conditions for removing tree tubes today! We're helping with the aftercare of this lovely bit of woodland creation at Brotherilkeld Farm in Eskdale, at the bottom of the Hardknott Pass. Red squirrel spotted enjoying the woods. @envleeds.bsky.social @leedsleaf.bsky.social @nfudc.bsky.social

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Restoring Hardknott Forest 🌎 @hardknottforest.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

Fancy working with the Upper Duddon Landscape Recovery team? The National Trust are offering a Level 2 Assistant Ranger Apprentice role. Deadline 22nd June. Click the link below for more information. Please share. bit.ly/43p5BGh

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Restoring Hardknott Forest 🌎 @hardknottforest.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

There are spaces left for our tree nursery day tomorrow. Help us produce the next generation of trees and wildflowers. Quick walk through video and booking link below. youtube.com/shorts/HFJTX... www.trybooking.com/uk/GHPO

youtube.com

Tree nursery walk through

YouTube video by Restoring Hardknott Forest

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Restoring Hardknott Forest 🌎 @hardknottforest.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

A ubiquitous helium balloon found by Ewan on our volunteer day yesterday. At least this one has a warning sticker on it, so that's alright. @envleeds.bsky.social @leedsleaf.bsky.social @forestryengland.bsky.social @cumbriacvs.bsky.social @keepbritaintidy.bsky.social

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Restoring Hardknott Forest 🌎 @hardknottforest.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

Great to spot a pair of ring ouzels on our heathland monitoring day this week. We like to think they'll appreciate the work that the Upper Duddon Landscape Recovery project is doing to improve these habitats. Video by our new ranger Abbey. Photos below. @rspb.bsky.social @cumbriauni.bsky.social

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Restoring Hardknott Forest 🌎 @hardknottforest.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

Removing sitka spruce and ring barking larch in temperate rainforest today. Great work from our vols in the scorchio conditions. @forestryengland.bsky.social @guyshrubsole.bsky.social @cumbriacvs.bsky.social

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Restoring Hardknott Forest 🌎 @hardknottforest.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

Thanks to everyone who came to chat to us at the Ulverston Volunteer Fair yesterday & thanks to the organisers @cumbriacvs.bsky.social. A lot* of people were asking to see more of the #plinths we use to display photos, so here they are! Handcrafted from trees from Hardknott Forest! (* 🤷‍♂️)

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Restoring Hardknott Forest 🌎 @hardknottforest.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

Here's a quick walk through from our first community tree nursery day today. More days coming up next month, check out the dates here ➡️ bag.leeds.ac.uk/projects/res...

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Restoring Hardknott Forest 🌎 @hardknottforest.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

We've just updated our events page, so check it out for: ➡️ site tours 🥾 ➡️ volunteering days ⚒️ ➡️ tree nursery days 🌳 ➡️ walling days 🧱 ...& more...shares welcome. bag.leeds.ac.uk/projects/res... @envleeds.bsky.social @cumbriacvs.bsky.social @johnmuirtrust.bsky.social @lakedistrictnpa.bsky.social

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Restoring Hardknott Forest 🌎 @hardknottforest.bsky.social · 10/05/2026

Just home after the brilliant Cumbria Nature Festival. Huge congratulations need to go to the organisers for a brilliant event at a lovely venue. The food, music, beer, talks and activities were all excellent. @leedsleaf.bsky.social @cumbriacvs.bsky.social @cumbriawildlife.bsky.social

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Restoring Hardknott Forest 🌎 @hardknottforest.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

Cumbria Nature Festival is this weekend. Stalls, activities, music, talks, food and beer! Come & find us there. All the info here: ⤵️ www.cumbrianaturefestival.co.uk

cumbrianaturefestival.co.uk

Cumbria Nature Festival

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