Lake District Volunteers Plant 17,860 Trees in 5 Months

Nearly 18,000 trees now stand where empty fields once stretched across England's Lake District, thanks to hundreds of volunteers who spent five months transforming the landscape into a haven for wildlife.

Friends of the Lake District rallied community members to plant 17,860 trees between November 2025 and March 2026. The team also created 1.2 miles of brand new hedgerows and restored another 1.8 miles of existing ones across Cumbria.

The project brought conservation work to unexpected places. Volunteers planted hedgerows at Kirkby Lonsdale Football Club and St. Peter's Church in Askham, ensuring local residents could watch their handiwork grow for years to come.

"These strips of trees and grass verges might look unassuming, but they can be home to a wide variety of plant species and biodiversity powerhouses if managed correctly," said Naomi Walker, the charity's nature recovery officer.

Local farmers played a central role in the Hedges and Edges initiative. Their involvement helps revive rural hedge management skills that have slowly disappeared over recent decades.

The Ripple Effect

The benefits extend far beyond providing homes for birds and insects. Properly maintained hedgerows act as natural flood defenses, slowing water runoff and protecting communities downstream during heavy rains.

Every new hedgerow creates corridors that allow wildlife to move safely between habitats. These green highways help struggling species find food, shelter, and mates across fragmented landscapes.

Walker highlighted the personal connection volunteers now have to the project. "It's nice that the people who helped us plant these hedges can go back and watch them grow," she said.

The charity isn't slowing down. Plans are already underway to plant and restore another 3.7 miles of hedgerows next winter, building on this year's momentum and expanding Cumbria's growing network of wildlife habitats.

Thousands of saplings are already growing stronger, ready to welcome the next generation of wildlife home.