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Restoring Hardknott Forest 🌎

@hardknottforest.bsky.social
671 followers 908 following 406 posts

Restoring a 630 hectare conifer plantation to native woodland. Partner in Upper Duddon Landscape Recovery. Linktree: linktr.ee/hardknottforest?fbclid=PA…

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Restoring Hardknott Forest 🌎 @hardknottforest.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
...when to remove tubes and which species are doing well. The planting of oak amongst hawthorn has worked really well up there. Lower down the valley we had a look at some new wood pasture creation which is looking good so far. There was also quite a bit of evidence of gratutious pointing.
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Restoring Hardknott Forest 🌎 @hardknottforest.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
It's been great working with #woodlandtrust staff Pete Leeson and Steve Hebblethwaite on this high level tree planting exclosure at the top of Wrynose Pass. Even a small(ish) site like this has a wide variety of conditions to deal with - soil type, exposure, deer...
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Restoring Hardknott Forest 🌎 @hardknottforest.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Join us on Sunday for a day of wildflower planting by the River Duddon. We'll be planting 600 of the first wildflowers grown in our own nursery. Two places left. @wildflowerhour.bsky.social @forestryengland.bsky.social @nationaltrust.org.uk @nfudc.bsky.social www.trybooking.com/uk/GSZO
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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.
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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
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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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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
Here's a bonus four spotted chaser, and last but not least some slugs doing their thing.
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Restoring Hardknott Forest 🌎 @hardknottforest.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
Southern hawker (we're 99% sure) egg laying. Showing how important it is to have at least some habitat that stays wet. @savebutterflies.bsky.social @ukbutterflies.bsky.social @buglife.bsky.social
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Restoring Hardknott Forest 🌎 @hardknottforest.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
Hummingbird hawk moth, a summer migrant from southern Europe. Feeds on knapweed, honeysuckle which we're growing more of. Caterpillars need bedstraw species, common in our area. An example of convergent evolution?
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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 · 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 · 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 · 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 · 08/07/2026
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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 · 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
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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 · 14/05/2026
Come & learn more about our butterflies from Francesca from Nature Rich Miterdale. @leedsleaf.bsky.social @forestryengland.bsky.social @nationaltrust.org.uk @ukbutterflies.bsky.social
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Restoring Hardknott Forest 🌎 @hardknottforest.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
We'll be here tomorrow. Call in if you can. @cumbriacvs.bsky.social @thisisulverston.bsky.social
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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
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Restoring Hardknott Forest 🌎 @hardknottforest.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
Spring scenes in the Upper Duddon valley.
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Restoring Hardknott Forest 🌎 @hardknottforest.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
Decent weather is essential for butterfly monitoring, otherwise they'll hunker down somewhere. Here's some we spotted this week. The hows and whys of our butterfly monitoring are covered in this blog ➡️ bag.leeds.ac.uk/projects/res... @savebutterflies.bsky.social @earthandenvleeds.bsky.social
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Restoring Hardknott Forest 🌎 @hardknottforest.bsky.social · 28/04/2026
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Restoring Hardknott Forest 🌎 @hardknottforest.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
The first day of this year's breeding bird survey was exciting enough as it was, but being distracted by home grown pine marten droppings made it even better.
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