Derwentwater…… to Ennerdale

Dawn over Derwentwater, Cumbria.

 

Dawn brought none of the promised sunshine, not that it was a bad start.  Skiddaw and Blencathra had a sprinkling of snow just visible below the hats of cloud that touched the tops. The cloud cover was both broken and high suggesting that a good day was in prospect.

So with ‘hope’ we headed west over the Honister Pass our aim being Ennerdale.

On route we passed Buttermere with its lonely Pines sheltered below the crags of Haystacks with just a little sun breaking through the clouds.

Buttermere and Haystacks

Ennerdale, apart from being a quiet and beautiful Valley that heads deep into the Cumbrian Fells, is also part of a new initiative to ‘re-wild’ the valley.  The National Park together with the two main organisation involved in the valley, The Forestry Commission and United Utilities together with input from the John Muir Trust have started the process of removing the commercial Pine forest and replanting native broadleaved trees.  The removal of fencing and a grazing policy of mix of sheep and cattle to help keep shrub under control also helps.  Open access for walkers, cyclists and others is encouraged. 

Whilst Ennerdale may not be the most wild of landscapes in Cumbria, in fact it is largely a man made landscape and reservoir surround by Fells, it has one big advantage…..there is only one road in the valley and access has been restricted on that for many years. 

 

What a difference just a week without rain makes, more often than not Smithy Beck is fast flowing and deep feeding water from the fells to Ennerdale Water…but not to-day a comparative trickle.

The Larch are now rich green with new growth …..

I wish the WILDING of ENNERDALE project well.  It will take several generations before we see what can be achieved but as with all things connected with our landscape construction and regeneration has always occurred at a slower rate than the destruction process.

I was reminded of just how long man has been involved in this valley.  Take a close look at the image below of Crag Fell.  Note the water course that has cut is way into the rock flowing down into the Lake.  Then look to its left and trace the line of a Dry Stone Wall from shore to summit….constructed of individual stones, interlocking to form a solid wall with no cement to add strength.   Just how many men and how much time, on this difficult terrain, did it take to construct?  It has stood the test of time and weather for what must be well over 150 years.

24th April