Our work in Wasdale

Large-scale footpath repair

An estimated 250,000 people visit the summit of Scafell Pike annually, which puts a lot of pressure on the surrounding environment. The increased footfall and the Cumbrian weather is leading to rapid erosion of paths, which is now an annual maintenance challenge. Working in partnership with Fix the Fells, there’s been extensive footpath restoration on both Scafell Pike and Great Gable to reduce the impact of thousands of pairs of feet and help protect the habitats of the rare plants found on the mountain.

In 2021, there was extensive work to repair worn sections of path on one of the most popular routes to Scafell Pike’s summit from Wasdale Head. By repairing and creating more resilient paths better capable of managing increasing visitor numbers, Fix the Fells aims to reduce soil, gravel, stone and peat degradation in upland areas. The damage results in the loss of rare upland habitats and species decline, as well as impacting on rivers and lakes below as sediment is washed off fellsides.

The six-month repair project concentrated on five sections of path totalling 1km in length and saw repairs and maintenance carried out from the valley bottom up to the summit top. The next area the upland team will focus on is at the upper section of the Hollowstones area, which is being badly eroded and the montane habitats damaged by the high numbers of users climbing the fell.

Everyone can help look after the Lake District while they are out and about enjoying the fells by wearing appropriate footwear, sticking to paths and not being afraid to get your boots muddy by going through rather than around puddles. Stepping to the side to let others pass at a safe distance before returning to the path to continue your walk will also help stop paths widening and wearing down surrounding grasslands.

Looking after Greendale Mire SSSI

While looking across to the screes, from the western shore of Wastwater, it is easy to overlook the patchwork of important wetland habitat on the edge of this great lake. The Greendale Mires contains an extensive network of both acid flushes and basin mires which is unique in West Cumbria. There are few intact areas of these nationally rare peatland habitats left which is why it has been afforded protection as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Many important species make up this rare eco-system. The exotic looking carnivorous common sundew and long-leaved sundew can be found here as well as sunny bog asphodel and the peatland carbon-storing hero sphagnum moss. These are just a few of the wetland plants that work to filter the water, and capture carbon while supporting a range of wildlife on the lake shore.

This delicate area is nutrient poor and can be easily damaged by trampling or left-over waste but with more and more people coming to the valley and an increase in poor behaviour, the ranger team have had to put protective boulders along the roadside, increase patrolling and carry out litter picks to try to protect it. You can help them look after the landscape by always following the Countryside Code.

Hydropower comes to the West Lakes

The Lake District gets plenty of rainfall so it’s a good place to install a green energy hydropower scheme. We aim to produce 50% of our energy from renewables and one of the ways we are working towards this target is to harness the energy that occurs naturally from the water that flows down our Lake District gills, becks and rivers.

Completion of three hydro projects

Netherbeck in Wasdale, which has produced over 1 gigawatt (1 billion watts) of energy since it was commissioned in 2019, Whillan Beck in Eskdale and Crosby Gill in Duddon Valley are now running and producing energy. The ranger team carry out regular maintenance of the hydros: making sure the intake screens are clean and that the generators are greased and running efficiently. They have planted up riparian zones around the becks with over 500 trees being planted at Hazel Head farm.

Diverting water: how we are working with nature

Conservation and nature are at the heart of everything we do and keeping the river flowing is our priority. The hydro intake removes water flowing through the beck, but it is ‘consented flow’, meaning that the amount removed has been calculated by the Environment Agency following a years’ worth of beck monitoring. It ensures that more than enough water remains in the river, before some is diverted, and doesn’t negatively impact on downstream habitats. During dry weather, there will be less water, and in turn the hydro will slow and generate less electricity.

How you support our work in Wasdale

Your car parking payments and donations help to protect the woodland and water. They also contribute to managing and conserving habitats and helping the fells remain accessible for everyone. When you scan your membership card when you visit, we receive more money for our work in Wasdale.