Access Improvements to Moor How.

Moor How (height: 229m/751 ft.) overlooking Park Cliffe on the South East side of Windermere. (The name Moor How is probably derived from moorland hill)

The footpath to Moor How crosses land owned by Park Cliffe Camping and Caravan Estate; access on to National Trust land and Moor How was once over a stone step stile.

The stone step stile set into the boundary wall....difficult to negotiate and deterred some people from using it, especially those with dogs. 

James Archer, NT Area ranger for Windermere and Troutbeck, was keen to improve this access; he proposed taking this section of wall down to allow a self closing "wicket gate" to be installed in the gap.

When consulted, The Lake District National Park Authority were in favour of this proposal, as were the proprietors of Park Cliffe, Mr. and Mrs. Dickson.

Thanks are owed to Mr. and Mrs. Dickson for their generous donation towards the cost of the work involved. Topsoil and gravel was also made available from Park Cliffe.

As well as improving access for walkers, the removal of the step stile will potentially make the boundary wall more stock proof. Sheep in some areas have learnt how to negotiate stone step stiles as shown in this recent image at a farm near Windermere!

The wall in the process of being taken down.
Monday, April 13th.

Because the boundary wall was built over bedrock, the gate pins were concreted directly into the wall...digging a hole for a conventional gate post was not feasible.  The closing or clacking post was anchored on the opposite side using threaded bars encased in concrete.

The wall is nearly rebuilt with the top  gate pin, set into the new wall end,  clearly visible. The top and bottom gate pins are offset. This will make the gate swing shut when released from the opened position.

Landscaping work below the relocated path.

Our first customers! (After completion of work.)

From the Moor How summit, a view over Park Cliffe and Windermere to the west....

.....and a hazy view of the Howgill Fells to the east.

Stands of gorse are a feature of Moor How. In flower, mid April.

A geological fold in the rock formation, near the summit.

Dora's field and the Wordsworth Daffodils

If there is one story that shows the character of William Wordsworth then it is surely the story of Dora's Field. This small patch of land in Rydal, cared for by the National Trust since 1935, hosts one of the least well-known stories of the great poet.

Wordsworth and his family rented Rydal mount, the large country house that can be seen from Dora's field, from Lady Anne le Flemming from May 1813. In 1825 Lady Anne announced her intention of giving the tenancy of Rydal Mount to a relative. Under threat of eviction, and desperate not to be forced away from the idyllic Rydal, William purchased the field (then known as 'The Rashfield' - the damp land was full of rushes) and made it clear to Lady le Fleming his intention of building on the field in what ever way he wished (this would have been right in the view from Rydal Mount). George Webster, a famous Kendal architect, was even paid to draw up a design.

The threat was enough and Lady Anne backed down, and Wordsworth gifted the field to his daughter Dorothy, hence the new name 'Dora's Field'. When Dorothy was diagnosed with leukemia Wordsworth cancelled his travels and they spent her final few years together. When she died Wordsworth and his gardener planted hundreds of daffodil bulbs in her memory - the same flowers that can still be seen today (quite literally on this occasion - see picture below).

In preparation for this years daffodil display our staff and volunteers worked hard to clear the pathways from the winter build-up of leaf litter, clear back some scrub from the daffodil areas and remove some of the invasive Cherry Laurel trees from the garden borders to prevent further spread. Once established Cherry Laurel puts down a poisonous ground layer of chemicals that stop any ground flora from growing, decreasing the value of the area to wildlife.

 Five large laurel trees - a monoculture and blocking our neighbours light

And after - since this image natural regeneration of native species has already begun occuring

Volunteers tending the fire site - as cherry laurel can grow new roots from cut branches we had to burn the brash on site

The smoke from the fire creating a lovely photo opportunity

Reinstating a historic dry-stone wall

Dora's field is open all year round and is located in Rydal next to the Badger Bar on the A591 between Ambleside and Grasmere. The daffodils are still in full bloom and will be followed by an excellent display of bluebells and wild garlic.

Tree Guards and Tree Planting: The Howe Farm.

Rangers have recently been involved with a lot of tree planting and the construction of wooden tree guards on various Trust farms in the Windermere and Troutbeck area.

The Howe Farm, on the A592 Kirkstone Road, is one such farm where this work is taking place.

This guard, under construction, is one of five in a field in which horses are kept...wider and stronger than most guards.

Two of the guards protecting recently planted oak trees.

A different style of guard by the stream...Troutbeck.

Narrow and much taller.

Another guard under construction overlooking The Howe Farm.

Complete with elm tree.

The last job was to remove and replace the broken protective fence around possibly the oldest ash pollard in the area.

Much better!

 A close up view of this veteran tree. It has, over the years, become a precious wildlife habitat. Note the new growth from the base of the tree.

The view from the ash pollard.

Troutbeck Park Farm below the Troutbeck Tongue with Yoke to the right of the image. This farm has been the subject of several posts relating to tree planting, wood pasture, and pollards