Cumbria stories you might have missed this week

Artist Charlie Winney has used the Sycamore Gap trunk as a centrepiece for his sculpture

A building in danger of collapsing further into a river and a lost tortoise being reunited with her owner - here are some stories from Cumbria you might have missed.

Collapsed building's owner reiterates flats plan

Part of the Old Courthouse building fell into the nearby river in 2023

The owner of a Grade II listed building in danger of further collapsing into a river says he still wants to transform it into flats.

Part of the Old Courthouse in the centre of Cockermouth, Cumbria, fell into the River Cocker in October 2023 and the property has yet to be repaired.

Businessman Samiul Ahmed claims he cannot move forward with his refurbishment plans because of legal notices served by the local authority.

• Read more about the building in danger of further collapse here

'Dismay' as mountain rescue donations stolen

Penrith Mountain Rescue Team discovered the theft after spending 12 hours on call outs

A mountain rescue team was "dismayed" to find donations had been stolen from its collection box at a beauty spot.

Penrith Mountain Rescue Team said it made the discovery at Mardale Head, in the Lake District, on Sunday, after spending 12 hours on call-outs the previous day.

A spokesman for the team said the box, which was set in a stone wall, had also been vandalised.

• Read more about the stolen donations here

Tortoise with burn mark found after seven years

The tortoise, dubbed "lucky" has been reunited with her owner after seven years

A tortoise with a distinctive burned shell has been reunited with her owner after being missing for seven years.

Mandy Christopher, 38, who owns Little Beasties pet shop in Ulverston, Cumbria, traced the owner thanks to a social media campaign.

The female tortoise, affectionally named "lucky tortoise" by Ms Christopher, was handed back to her owners after they recognised her shell which was injured by a wood-burning stove.

• Read more about the tortoise reunited with her owner here

Farm project to plant hay meadows announced

Work is due to be carried out in the Lake District over the summer

A £65,000 project to plant hay meadows on farmland this summer has been announced.

The Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA) and Cumbria Wildlife Trust are working on the plan to support "rare and threatened" plants that provide "vital nectar sources" for pollinators like bumblebees, hoverflies, and butterflies.

Sites across the Lake District have already been identified and farmers will work with the organisations in the next three months to sow and plant seeds from other sites, the LDNPA said.

• Read more about the project to plant hay meadows on farmland here

'People can hug the Sycamore Gap tree again'

It is hoped the sculpture will be a permanent memorial to the tree

A piece of the world-famous Sycamore Gap tree which was illegally felled nearly two years ago is to go on permanent display.

The act sparked global condemnation and outrage in September 2023, with two men found guilty of chopping the tree down earlier this year.

Now, people will be able to see and touch part of its trunk at a Northumberland visitor centre near where the tree stood.

• Read more about the Sycamore Gap trunk sculpture here