Mountain secured for forest restoration project

Cumbria Wildlife Trust has secured more than 3,000 acres of Skiddaw Forest including its summit at 931m (3,054 ft)

A wildlife trust has hit its fundraising target to secure a mountain and its slopes to create England's highest nature reserve.

Cumbria Wildlife Trust said it was "overwhelmed" to have received £1.25m in public donations on top of £5m in funding to buy more than 3,000 acres of Skiddaw Forest, including its summit at 931m (3,054 ft).

It is part of a scheme to restore what is known as Atlantic Rainforest, a mixture of native woodland and peat-rich soils which trap carbon.

Chief executive Steve Trotter said the charity's vision would be to create "a mosaic of healthy, resilient and revitalised mountain habitats" in the next 100 years.

Cumbria Wildlife Trust plans to restore 992 acres of peatland

The temperate rainforest, which counts for 620 acres, is planned to be created with native trees that are adapted to live in an upland landscape, the trust said.

The trees will be low-growing due to the altitude of planting, it added.

The organisation said volunteers were being trained to seed-collect so native seeds can be taken from local fells in autumn and spring.

Seeds will then be taken to hubs in Plumgarths near Kendal and Cold Springs Community Nature Reserve in Penrith, and a site near Keswick.

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Water from the slopes around Skiddaw runs into the River Caldew, which in the past has contributed to flooding in communities along the waterway towards Carlisle.

It is hoped storing water further upstream in 992 acres of peatbog will help reduce the likelihood of future flooding.

This is planned to recreate "high-altitude scrub and alpine-like grassland across 120 acres, returning habitat that's almost entirely missing from the English uplands".

Over time, it is believed restoring the landscape on Skiddaw will bring back once common species such as black grouse and help establish merlin, a threatened bird of prey.

The scheme involves restoring what is known as Atlantic Rainforest, a mixture of native woodland and peat-rich soils which trap carbon

Cumbria Wildlife Trust secured £5m from a long-term partnership with Aviva, and support from charitable funders.

Mr Trotter said the trust was "bowled over" by the "incredible generosity of thousands of people who have donated".

"The development of Skiddaw Forest gives a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to put nature firmly into recovery on a vast scale," he continued.

Cumbria Wildlife Trust said it would be working with local communities, farmers and volunteers.

Mr Trotter said while the purchase of the mountain was secured, fundraising would continue for the restoration work on the site.