Vote for a great cause: Wild Ennerdale
Outdoor headlines
02 March 2011 15:21
LFTOers will soon have the chance to pick their favourite conservation project from a selection of four worthy contenders. The winner will receive a cash award from the European Outdoor Conservation Association (www.outdoorconservation.eu) - a group of businesses in the European outdoor industry that have come together to raise funds for conservation and promote care and respect for wild places. Voting will open early next week at www.lfto.com/conservation, but in the meantime we’ll be introducing you to the organisations that want to win your vote. Here’s our second project, Wild Ennerdale...
2. Wild Ennerdale
Who are we?
The Ennerdale Valley is a uniquely wild Cumbrian valley lying within the world famous Lake District National Park. Wild Ennerdale is a partnership of people and organisations with a vision to see the Ennerdale Valley develop as a wilder place for the benefit of people and nature. More information can be found on the partnerships website www.wildennerdale.co.uk
What we propose to do:
The ancient Oak woodlands of Ennerdale are a unique habitat characterised by the sound of cuckoo, the barking of roe deer and scurrying of red squirrels collecting acorns. They have been compared to tropical rainforests as in spring they are a vivid luxuriant green with bryophytes, ferns and mosses and are home to hundreds of species. These are all reliant on the birch and oak trees holding in moisture and providing a protective canopy from the elements.
The Ennerdale Squirrel Woodlands Project will ensure that these special places are protected from an expanding grey squirrel population, which, if unchecked, will strip the bark of young and old trees alike, reduce regeneration by eating acorns before they fall and carry a virus which is fatal to our native red squirrels.
Working in Partnership with the Ennerdale Community Red Squirrel Group we will:
- Protect the woodlands by running a grey squirrel reporting and trapping programme.
- Support native red squirrels with a feeding programme
- Expand our oak woodlands by planting 10,000 oak and birch trees in partnership with local schools and volunteers.
- Share these unique woodlands through themed events and activities and developing a web based squirrel sighting map.
Why LFTOers should vote for us:
Our ancient oak woodlands are unique and rare habitats that many centuries ago extended along much of the western mountains of Britain. Today these islands of biodiversity are home to endangered wildlife that relies on us to protect their fragile habitats. Our children and their children deserve to be able to enjoy these enchanting places with all their sounds, smells and history.
The ancient oak woodlands of Ennerdale can be protected, expanded and shared with your help. Vote Oak today and help secure a future for the acorns and squirrels of tomorrow.