North Lakes

Enjoyed by millions of visitors annually, the North Lakes Futurescape offers an awe-inspiring landscape of open fells, wooded valleys, lakes, tumbling streams and meadows. 

It is a fantastic place for wildlife, but humans have had an impact on the landscape. Working with partners, we aim to inspire a landscape which combines the Lake District’s dramatic scenery with wildlife-rich areas.

We’re working to help improve the water quality of lakes, tarns and rivers. We also want to restore lost hay meadows, rewet dried-up upland bogs and reverse the historical loss of native woodland and heather moorland.

We want to see a landscape which: supports wildlife such as red grouse, wood warblers, golden eagles and curlews; provides livelihoods for future generations of farmers; can adapt to climate change; supports tourism and local communities as well as providing high-quality drinking water.

Find out what’s going on near this Futurescape, including places to visit, news and local events, plus how you can work or volunteer for us. 

• Cumbria

Reserves and other protected areas are a key part of Futurescapes. They provide core areas for nature to thrive and eventually repopulate the surrounding landscapes. The key RSPB reserves within this Futurescape are:

Haweswater

Haweswater is a dramatic landscape of high fells, rushing rivers, heath, meadow, bog and woodland and is home to a host of upland wildlife. Until recently, it was also the home of England’s last golden eagle.

Futurescapes is all about collaboration. There are many organisations and people involved in managing land in the North Lakes. Our challenge is working together to find ways of making more space for nature. To achieve this we’re working with:

• Cumbria Wildlife Trust
• The Environment Agency
• Forestry Commission
• Friends of the Lake District
• Lake District National Park
• Lake District Osprey Project
• National Trust
• Natural England
• Ullswater Steamers
• United Utilities
• West Cumbria Rivers Trust
• Woodland Trust