Rewilding in the Lake District is a very topical subject at the moment and at Sparket Mill we are doing our bit for nature. We have thirteen acres, so not swathes of wilderness, but there is enough land to make a difference. The Dacre Beck borders the fields and provides a wildlife corridor amongst some of the more productive neighbouring farm land. We like to think of our land as a refuge for nature. One of the first points of contact was with Ullswater CIC and they brought in Rob Dixon from Wild Lakeland. Rob is an ecologist and did a plant survey on the fields in the first few months of us being here. The range of flora is varied and high in number and there are mixed habitats allowing for a huge range of biodiversity in such a small area. With half a mile of river running along the boundary, there is the potential for us to enhance the benefits that this land can offer nature, whilst offering traditional hay meadow grazing for livestock.

We are still in the early stages of understanding what lives here and what might yet live here and hope to learn from local conservation groups and farmers about how we best take care of this part of the beautiful Cumbria. The species count so far has been really exciting. There are red squirrels along the tree line, otters in the beck, some nesting dippers by the Forge and kingfishers nesting nearby. If you have an interest in wildlife and nature then this might be a great place to come and spend some time?