Conservation
Stay Lakeland is a proud member of the Tourism and Conservation Partnership. The partnership consists of tourism and associated businesses that offer their customers the opportunity to directly support landscape conservation within Cumbria.
Since joining the Tourisim & Conservation Partnership Stay Lakeland has raised more than £1000.00 for the Dubbs Moss Nature Reserve near Cockermouth as well as over £300.00 for the Church Plantation on the shore of Bassenthwaite lake.
We aim to continue our support for the partnership by supporting more projects in our immediate vicinity.
Dubbs Moss
Dubbs Moss is a naturally damp hollow surrounded by farmland. It was purchased by Cumbria Wildlife Trust in 1972. Three main habitats are present. The western part of the reserve is covered by birch woodland. The shade cast by the trees, combined with the wet ground gives ideal conditions for mosses and ferns to flourish. Male fern, hard fern and narrow buckler fern and the mosses Thuidium tamariscinum and Polytrichum commone are amongst the commonest.
Moving east, the woodland opens out into fen grassland with taller plants such as yellow iris, meadowsweet, valerian, angelica, common spotted orchid and evil's-bit scabious.
The ground rises towards the eastern side, providing drier conditions. The grassland is quite different here with early purple orchid, cowslip, knapweed and betony. Hawthorn scrub, encrusted with many different lichens, has also become established.
This variety of habitats makes the reserve interesting for birds. Most of the common species of tit can be seen in the woods, and the rarer willow tit also breeds here. Warblers including whitethroat, blackcap, chiffchaff, willow, garden grasshopper and sedge warbler, return each year from Africa to breed. In winter, flocks of fieldfares and redwings feed on the hawthorn berries. Roe deer are seen on the reserve quite frequently. On sunny days in summer ringlet and small pearl-bordered fritillary butterflies are abundant on the wet grassland. The reserve is also important for other invertebrates such as beetles, spiders and moths.
Church Plantation
Church Plantation is a small wood close to the shore of Bassenthwaite Lake. Although named a plantation, this small woodland has oak, ash, sycamore and beech trees. Wild cherry, crab apple, guelder rose and hazel are also on site. Woodland flowers include dog's mercury, bluebell, herb Robert and dog violet.
Access to the wood can be gained from Scarness Road, a public footpath runs through the middle of the wood, with seating available. Links to the long distance Allerdale Ramble can be made just south of the wood, and the old church of St. Bega's lies just to the south of the wood on the public footpath.
The Woodland Trust is looking for support to look after the path through the wood (with stiles and gates maintained and improved where necessary) to encourage access for local users and visitors. Apart from light thinning, the wood will be encouraged to shape itself naturally, conserving old growth, deadwood communities, mosses and lichens and old wall features.
35 Station Street, Cockermouth, Cumbria, CA13 9QW