The Flora of the Fells project, core funded by Friends of the Lake District and Natural England is about connecting people of all ages and backgrounds with Cumbria’s upland landscapes and environments.

Our education work focuses on schools and young people across Cumbria using direct experience in the outdoor classroom, hands-on activities and helping to develop longer-term sustainable links with local sites. It’s a chance to explore a ‘wilder’ place, discover what makes it special, from tiny arctic alpine flowers or mosses (which have survived since the last ice age), habitats, and the geological, natural and human impacts that shape the landscape.

We work mainly with primary schools but also with secondary schools as well as family or youth events. Activities and projects link to the curriculum and are generally cross-curricula Some schools take part in the John Muir Award [link to www.johnmuiraward.org as part of their projects with us.

Young people can get involved in conserving and protecting environments through hands on work, and survey or produce interpretive materials which can be shared with other students, parents and the community.

Our Green Space: This new three year project is about celebrating and enhancing the heritage, cultural, environmental and community value of open green spaces in Cumbria in five areas; Barrow, Wasdale, Newbiggin, Burgh-by-Sands and Great and Little Asby. Several schools and youth groups are also getting involved with the projects; from recording their local history, felt working, photography to research, ecological and historical surveys or producing interpretative materials.