The page contains a record of our meetings over the last few years.
12 October 2017
Endangered or Vulnerable – lessons from snow leopard research in Kazakhstan
Dr Ian Convery and Dr Volker Deeker (University of Cumbria)
Snow leopards have recently been downlisted from endangered to vulnerable status. Illegal killing has decreased in many area, but declines in prey abundance and climate change continue to pose threats. Using camera trap data combined with environmental modelling a team of University of Cumbria researchers set out to investigate the state of a snow leopard population in Kazakhstan’s Ile Alatau mountains.
9 November 2017
Arctic charr: the Cumbrian ecology and status of an Ice Age relict
Dr Ian Winfield (Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Natural Environment Research Council)
The Arctic charr was one of the first fish species to colonise what was to become the UK after the last glaciation. Having now been with us for c. 10,000 years and being of recognised biodiversity and fisheries importance, its Cumbrian populations nevertheless face a range of environmental threats. This presentation will describe the local ecology of this remarkable fish and discuss its future conservation.
14 December 2017
Architecture in the Lakes through the centuries
Andy Lowe (former Buildings Conservation Officer, LDNPA)
Andy Lowe will look at the detailed design of buildings from medieval times to the twentieth century and how they contribute to making the Lake District such a special place.
25 January 2018
Jacobs Join supper and Annual General Meeting followed by showing of members’ best natural history photographs taken during 2017 (no more than six each, brought on a memory stick).
Ambleside Parish Centre, St Mary’s Church, Ambleside LA22 9DH
This meeting begins at 7:00pm. Note also the change of location.
8 February 2018
Marine mammals and tidal turbines: what are the issues of concern and how are they being resolved?
Professor Ben Wilson (Scottish Association of Marine Science).
Renewables offer a solution to many of the UK’s energy problems. Among the more attractive options is to harness the predictable energy contained in the tides. Accordingly tidal turbines, a submarine equivalent to wind turbines, have been developed and tested to the point of being deployable in coastal seas in their tens or even hundreds. Putting new technologies into the environment always brings the risk of unintended harmful environmental impacts. In this illustrated presentation Prof. Ben Wilson will introduce the potential interactions that might occur between tidal turbines and marine mammals (seals, whales, dolphins and porpoises), describe the research that his team have been doing to address the concerns as well as other efforts going on in the UK and further afield. He will also describe some of the interesting insights into marine mammal behaviour that have resulted from research in the high energy sites of interest to renewable energy developers. The talk will be illustrated with pictures and sounds.
8 March 2018
Using drones for monitoring biodiversity & mapping the environment
Dr Paul Scholefield (Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster)
Dr Scholefield will talk about the wealth of information obtainable about habitats using sensors on drones. This helps us understand how landscapes change over time and how they are affected by people.
12 April 2018
Images From a Warming Planet
Ashley Cooper (photographer)
Ashley Cooper has spent the last thirteen years travelling to every continent on the planet to document the causes and impacts of climate change and the rise of renewable energy, the only photographer to have done so. This epic journey around the planet has taken him to over 30 countries, from close to the North Pole to the Antarctic, from 18,000 feet in the Bolivian Andes to sinking coral atoll islands in the South Pacific. His new book “Images From a Warming Planet” contains 500 of the best images from the project and has come out to critical acclaim, Jonathon Porritt called the book “An extraordinary collection of images and a powerful call to action”. Ashley is an award winning photo journalist whose work is used in newspapers, magazines and books all around the world.
17 May 2018
Evening visit to the National Trust Nature Reserve at Sandscale Haws to explore the unique dune habitats and to observe the colony of natterjack toads.
Because the toads only start calling after sunset, we will leave Ambleside in the late afternoon, have a 1-2h walk followed by a beachside picnic followed by a visit to the breeding ponds at dusk. Bring a water bottle, waterproof, walking boots (or comfortable wellies) and appropriate clothing. For the picnic, please also bring some finger food to share.
We will be meeting in the lower car park on the Ambleside campus at 16:00hrs. Alternatively you can meet us at the car park at Sandscale Haws, LA14 4QJ, at 17:00hrs.
A small number of members greatly enjoyed this visit on a glorious evening with superb views of the distant Lakeland fells. After a shared picnic supper we were lucky enough to hear from a lone natterjack toad. Photos taken during this visit can be viewed at https://photos.app.goo.gl/9CL4ikJCmv3eZ95W7
11 October 2018
This lecture is supported by the Ambleside Natural History Society, the Ambleside Conservation Society (our student society), the University of Cumbria and a bequest by Jean and Morison Harding.
Living with Elephants
Lizzie Daly (Wildlife biologist and BBC presenter)
Join Lizzie for a talk on her time in Kenya where blurring the line of elephant and human habitats can lead to fatal clashes between both species. She spent 2 months in the heart of Laikipia where human – elephant conflict is a daily occurrence leaving her to ask the question can we actually coexist alongside elephants for the future? Hear Lizzie’s tales of wildlife, places and people and find out how her experiences on the ground have shaped her research.
8 November 2018
A Tourist Guide to the Universe
Stuart Atkinson (Secretary, Eddington Astronomical Society, Kendal)
A tour of the fascinating worlds of our solar system and beyond, to other stars and galaxies to appreciate our place in the universe, using the very latest photos from space probes and telescopes, computer animations and imagery.
6 December 2018
Wild Ennerdale: into the Future Natural
Tom Burditt (General Manager, National Trust, North Lakes)
Wild Ennerdale is widely considered to be one of the premier “wild land” partnerships in England. We are now into our 16th year towards delivering our ambition of “Ennerdale as a wild valley for the benefit of people, relying more on natural processes to shape its landscape and ecology”. This talk will look back at why the Wild Ennerdale partnership was formed, how we work, and what some of our achievements have been to date. I will discuss the real world challenges and issues we face, and look forward to what our ambitions and aspirations are for the future.
24 January 2019
Jacobs Join supper and Annual General Meeting followed by showing of members’ best natural history photographs taken during 2018 (no more than six each, brought on a memory stick).
Ambleside Parish Centre, St Mary’s Church, Ambleside LA22 9DH
This meeting begins at 7:00pm. Note also the change of location.
14 February 2019
Working with pine martens
John W Martin (Myotismart Ltd., Wildlife Surveyors)
The talk will describe the species and history to date in the U.K. It will include the work he has been involved with annually in the Galloway Forest since 2003. The population recovery generally and specifically in Cumbria will be covered.
14 March 2019 – Meeting cancelled
Changing land management for public payment for public goods
Andrew Herbert (Lake District National Park)
What could “Public payments for public goods” from land management mean for the Lake District and Cumbria? It is one of the key principles in the UK Government’s new policies for land management and the environment. Andrew will describe what people in the Lake District and Cumbria are doing to understand what this could mean and how we are taking forward local action in Cumbria and contributing to national policy development.
11 April 2019
Swifts – the Magic, the Mystery and the Tragedy
Peter Moreton (Project Coordinator for Swifts in the Community)
Swifts engender enthusiasm and imagination like few other birds. This is a talk about how remarkable swifts are, how much we are only just understanding about them and how much we still don’t know. It is also about the plight of swifts, with numbers falling dramatically in recent years, and how much we can do to ensure they continue to grace our skies.
12 May 2019 (Sunday)
Visit to Foulshaw Moss Nature Reserve
Foulshaw Moss is an excellent example of a raised lowland peat bog with unique flora and fauna managed by the Cumbria Wildlife Trust. It is about 20 miles from Ambleside on the left-hand side of the A590 going south just past the Levens turn-off.Information about the reserve can be found at
https://www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk/nature-reserves/foulshaw-moss
About a dozen members had a splendid visit with a Jacob’s Join picnic lunch. The Moss has improved enormously in recent years as it slowly returns to its natural state and a wide variety of wildlife is visible.
Highlights of our visit included a sedge warbler singing to us on the raised platform, one of the nesting osprey flying circling overhead and an adder found under almost the last shelter we uncovered.
Some photos taken during our visit can be found at Foulshaw photos
Photo credits: JB, Jack Ball and RJA, Rebecca Julianne Ashmore.
10 October 2019
Back on our Map: Species Restoration in South Cumbria
Jo Sayers (University of Cumbria)
ANHS is joining with the University of Cumbria for a presentation evening, at the start of the new BOOM Project led by the University.
Back on Our Map (BOOM) has a new team in place and will be working to restore species to the distinctive lowland fells and coast of south Cumbria. We will work to engage communities in partnership with landowners in practical species re-introductions, reinforcements and habitat improvements. Working across 5000 hectares, project partners Morecambe Bay Partnership, the Forestry Commission, Natural England and Cumbria Wildlife Trust, we will focus on 12 species of plants, mammals, birds and invertebrates.
Come and meet the team and talk to us about how you might like to get involved, refreshments provided.
This evening is free to members and visitors.
14 November 2019
South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project
Philip Monro
The South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project aims to reinforce the small, isolated and vulnerable population of Golden Eagles in the Scottish Borders and Dumfries & Galloway. Through a series of translocations over a period of 5 years, we will look to increase numbers and prevent the loss of this majestic bird from Southern Skies.
12 December 2019
Morecambe Bay – an underwater safari
Gordon Fletcher (Diver and photographer)
It is easy to think the waters of Morecambe Bay are just cold, muddy and almost lifeless when it is in fact a rich and dynamic environment fed and driven by some of the highest tidal ranges around the UK and home to a multitude of often colourful marine creatures. This talk uses underwater photos taken in the Bay with first-hand experience to give an insight into the variety and lifestyles of many of these creatures.
23 January 2020
Jacobs Join supper and Annual General Meeting followed by showing of members’ best natural history photographs taken during 2019 (no more than ten each, brought on a memory stick).
Ambleside Parish Centre, St Mary’s Church, Ambleside LA22 9DH
This meeting begins at 7:00pm. Note also the change of location.
13 February 2020
Land management in an iconic upland landscape
Pete Barron (John Muir Trust)
John Muir Trust, through its commitment to protect and enhance wild land, has taken a lease for the management of Glenridding Common (Helvellyn) and aims to add value to previous management of the site through footpath maintenance, enhancement of the arctic-alpine flora and juniper woodland and other special qualities with opportunities for volunteers and education through the John Muir Award
12 March 2020
The return of beavers to Cumbria
Heather Devey (Beaver Project Officer, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Haweswater)
Eurasian beavers will be returning to Cumbria, with approval of the enclosed release of beavers onto the Lowther Estate near Penrith. Evidence from trials elsewhere in the UK show that they offer great benefits, including flood risk alleviation, improved water quality, habitat creation for other wildlife and increased revenue for the local economy through nature-based tourism. This is the first trial in an upland area in the UK.
There will be an opportunity to ask questions about beavers and the Cumbria reintroduction project after the talk.
12 November 2020
Saving our Night Skies
Jack Ellerby (project Officer, Dark Skies Cumbria)
Join Jack Ellerby for an online presentation to learn about the value of Dark Skies and the growing issues from the impacts of light pollution on wildlife and people. Hear about relevant research, good and bad lighting, what the Project’s doing and find out how we can all help to tackle light pollution.
10 December 2021
Community, Landscape and Biodiversity – the story of Rusland Horizons
Colin Barr (Rusland Horizons Trust)
This illustrated talk will tell the story of how the Rusland community secured Lottery funding to enhance and understand the local landscape through partnership working and volunteer action on 15 different projects.
The outcomes of these projects will be described with a special emphasis on those involving the wildlife of the Rusland valley.
14 January 2021
Restoring Hardknott Forest
John Hodgson
Restoring Hardknott Forest is an exciting project to restore one of the largest conifer plantations in the Lake District’s Duddon Valley to native woodland. Non-native trees are gradually being removed and replaced with native species such as oak. Project Officer John Hodgson will give an overview of the work completed so far and the plans for the future.
11 February 2021
Out of Africa……..a Photographer’s Safari
Alan and Julie Walker
This talk is packed full of photographs about the trials and tribulations of trying to capture something a little bit different from the stunning wildlife and landscape in Namibia, Botswana and Kenya.
11 March 2021
The North West Rare Plant Initiative
Joshua Styles
The North West Rare Plant Initiative has thus far carried out 49 reintroduction projects across the region of NW England and including 20 different species, many of which are on the cusp of extinction in the region.
The NWRPI won the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management 2020 Award for Best Practice: Small-scale Nature Conservation.
8 April 2021
Fantastic moths of Lakeland and where to find them
Guy Broome
The talk will cover unusual and spectacular moths from specific Lakeland habitat types. It will provide information on larval food plants and how to give moths a home in your garden or local patch. An introduction to the basics of moth trapping in gardens or at remote sites is included, too.
14 October 2021
Our Living Irish Sea
Beth Churn and Harry Cale (The North West Wildlife Trusts)
The talk will give an overview of what we mean by ‘living seas’ and what the North West Wildlife Trusts are currently doing to achieve this status for the Irish Sea. We will be explaining why various anthropogenic pressures in the Irish Sea make it so difficult for marine life to thrive, and what we can all do to help aid the recovery of the marine environment.
We will also be looking into the importance of some of our favourite Irish Sea residents and habitats, including the grey seal colony at South-Walney Nature Reserve, mud dwelling creatures like sea-pens and langoustine, seagrass meadows, and saltmarshes.
11 November 2021
Peatland restoration in Cumbria
David Harpley (Conservation Manager, Cumbria Wildlife Trust)
The importance of peatland in capture and storage of carbon from the atmosphere is widely recognised. David will discuss the ecology of bogs, why they are in the state they are now, why we ought to do something about it, the issues and conflicts around their management, what we do to restore bogs and where we go from here.
9 December 2021
Bats with Altitude
Rich Flight (South Cumbria Bat Group)
Discover how the South Cumbria Bat Group used remote monitoring devices to find out if UK bats could inhabit the harsh mountainous regions of the county.
27 January 2022
AGM
Jacob’s Join supper with opportunity for members to show their best natural history slides from the last year.
17 February 2022
Re-introducing Hazel Dormouse into Arnside & Silverdale AONB
Ellie Kent and Samantha Haddock (BOOM Project)
Back On Our Map – BOOM is a four-year National Lottery Heritage supported project which aims to re-introduce and reinforce a suite of species across south Cumbria. One of these species includes the hazel dormouse, one of our most enigmatic small mammals. Find out about the threats this tiny creature faces and how the local community and partners have been key to this re-introduction.
10 March 2022
The Freshwater Pearl Mussel Project
Louise Lavictoire (Freshwater Biological Association)
14 April 2022
Working for Water – Windermere reedbeds & Elterwater
Kath Smith (South Cumbria Rivers Trust)
A presentation that introduces some of the work of South Cumbria Rivers Trust around the Windermere catchment. We’ll look at the importance of reedbeds, touch on declining water quality, and explore briefly the work at Elterwater to restore natural processes.
Saturday 17 July 10:00-13:00hrs
BooM Plant Propagation Day
Join the Back on our Map Species Restoration Team for a morning of helping with the propagation of endangered pants as well as larval food plants for endangered butterflies. We will meet on the University of Cumbria’s Ambleside campus and work at outdoor tables maintaining social distancing. Feel free to join us for the entire time or just come for an hour or so.
Wednesday 28 July 20:30-21:30hrs –
Ambleside Bat Walk
Led by Volker Deecke, join us for a walk through Ambleside and along the River Rothay to look for local hotspots of bat activity. It’s an opportunity to use an acoustic bat detector (bring your own if you have one) and practice identifying common species from their ultrasonic echolocation calls.
13 October 2023
Ajay Tegala
Life of a Ranger
Wildlife presenter, naturalist and countryside ranger, Ajay Tegala, has worked in nature conservation for over a decade. From volunteering as a teenager to managing rare seabird colonies, England’s largest seal rookery plus an ambitious rewilding and habitat-restoration project. Along the way, Ajay has worked on and off screen for the BBC, including Springwatch, and has recently written his first book, The Unique Life of a Ranger. He will share some of his wild experiences and offer an insight into how he has followed his dreams, doing his best to safeguard nature throughout changing and uncertain times by engaging people with their local wildlife.
10 November 2022
Conserving our red squirrels
Stewart Sutcliffe (Grasmere Red Squirrel Group)
The talk will cover the Red Squirrel’s anatomy, life cycle, behaviour and threats; the conservation work in Cumbria and experiences of our Red Squirrel Group in Grasmere.
8 December 2022
Wild Fell: Fighting for Nature on a Lake District Hill Farm
Lee Schofield (RSPB Site Manager Haweswater)
Lee will talk about the work currently being done to restore the environment of two farms in the Haweswater valley including its joys and challenges. His recent book was Highly Commended in the James Cropper Wainwright Prize for Conservation.
9 February 2023
How Cumbria Butterfly Conservation is trying to save its rare butterflies
Chris Winnick (Cumbria Butterfly Conservation)
South Cumbria is home to several of the rarest butterflies in the UK, including the two rarest: the High Brown Fritillary and the Pearl-bordered Fritillary. With further major changes in land-management and climate change we must face the possibility that several species may go extinct. Can they [or even should they] be saved?
9 March 2023
Woodland Management in the South Lakes
Richard Tanner (National Trust)
The National Trust cares for 1100ha of woodland in the South Lakes and over 1000 veteran and important landscape trees. Richard’s talk will explore some of management decisions and issues facing the Trust ranging from the impact of disease to climate change and the recent winter storms
20 April 2023
Restoring pine martens in south Cumbria
Mic Mayhew (University of Cumbria – BOOM Project Officer)
Following three years of feasibility studies, the South Cumbria Pine Marten Recovery Project was developed in 2022 to reinforce Cumbrian populations as part of a coordinated national effort to restore the species. The project is led by the University of Cumbria in partnership with conservation NGOs and local landowners and aims to translocate pine martens under licence from donor sites in the Scottish Highlands to expand the regional metapopulation and support wider forest ecosystems.