Nature festival to 'build bridges' with community
Cumbria ConnectIt is hoped a nature festival, being held for the first time on an estate, will help "build bridges" with the local community, one of the organisers has said.
The event, at Lowther Castle and Gardens and its wider estate in Cumbria, includes walks, guided experiences, cycle rides and activities for families.
Organised by Cumbria Connect - a collaboration of farmers, landowners and conservationists, of which the Lowther Estate is one - it aims to showcase the nature recovery work happening there.
Martin Varley, the partnership's programme manager said: "Lowther is doing such great stuff, this is a chance for us to help people understand and dispel some of the myths."
"There is a disconnect between what people understand is happening with nature recovery and what is really happening," he added.
"We hope this festival will help get rid of some of that suspicion and build bridges."
The Lowther estate is trying to move away from intensive farming practices and reverse the decline in insects, birds, wildlife, wildflowers by restoring habitats and creating wetlands and wild flower meadows.
Activities include walks through Lowther's new wetland hide or a chance to learn more about the beavers that live in an enclosure.
There is also an electric bike tour and a tour of Lowther's woodlands with South Cumbria Bat Group offering a chance to listen to the nocturnal mammals.
Cumbria ConnectJoe Clements, conservation manager, said: "One of the most exciting things about Lowther is seeing how different habitats connect and support each other.
"The festival is an opportunity to get out into the landscape and see nature recovery in action."
Varley hopes the festival, which begins on 4 July, will help Lowther "feel proud" of what has been achieved already for nature.
"It's a big landowner in Cumbria, but what they're saying is come and chat with us, find out what we're doing, because there's loads of good stuff going on here," he said.
Cumbria Connect