Trust steps back from Glenridding Common tendering process

The Trust’s six-year lease of 1,100ha of Glenridding Common from the Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA) is currently set to end on 31 October 2023, following a decision by the Trust, not to tender for a proposed 99 year lease.

Jane Smallman, chair of John Muir Trust says, “Based on the current proposal for a long-term lease of the site, our Trustees did not feel able to proceed with submitting a response that could balance the proposed terms for continued management of the site with our objectives as a conservation charity. 

“We are very proud of the work our local team has done in the past six years, and grateful for the many partnerships and support we have developed locally and with the National Park Authority. We continue to be willing to discuss the management of land in this area into the future.”

During our stewardship, the Trust’s team has made improvements at Glenridding Common, for example, by working with the local community to grow on arctic alpine plants and introduce them onto steep slopes where they are afforded increased protection, repair footpaths, and by removing hundreds of bags of litter each year from the slopes of Helvellyn.

In the Trust’s view the proposed terms of the new lease and current commons legislation, do not allow scope for the further repair of this special wild place, to lock in carbon and increase biodiversity for the benefit of nature, people and communities. 

In addition, the land holding to be managed is different from the lease that has been managed to date. This is due to the removal of one of the most promising areas for nature recovery from the proposed new lease, that in turn sees the area proposed under the lease agreement reduce from 1,100 ha to 826ha. 

The Trust’s staff team in the area will be allocated into other work and projects, including through its partnership with United Utilities, Natural England and Cumbria Wildlife Trust, where it is managing land for nature recovery at Thirlmere. The Trust’s John Muir Award recently celebrated its 50,000 participant in Cumbria and remains a key form of educational outreach in the Lake District.

The Trust is in discussion with the LDNPA to ensure an effective handover of the management of Glenridding Common at the end of our lease, and to explore working in partnership with LDNPA in the future. The Trust is also seeking other opportunities where it can manage or acquire land in the area, that enables it to demonstrate exemplary land management and inspiring community and public engagement.

Since 2017 we have:

• Completed 71 habitat and species surveys: 45 breeding bird, 4 juniper, 1 health plot, 10 mountain ringlet butterfly, 1 bryophyte, 1 lichen, 1 Alpine mouse-ear, 1 Alpine saxifrage, 1 endemic Hieracium species and 6 Moorland Indicators of Climate Change Initiatives surveys and surveys
• Invested over £80,000 in upland path maintenance and created local employment for two skilled path workers alongside the four members of JMT staff 
• Worked in partnership with Fix the Fells on 10 joint volunteer work parties to deliver path maintenance  
• In 2022 we removed 164 kg of litter, including 562 banana skins and 1,801 piles of tissues and wet wipes from Helvellyn  
• Planted over 1,500 downy willow at high altitude  
• Taken cuttings from 6 rare montane willow species and various native flowers that are nurtured on throughout the year  
• Worked alongside nine volunteer growers and Natural England to produce approximately 200 plants annually to be planted out onto high altitude ledges to increase remnant existing populations  
• Led more than 20 educational visits with partners including Cumbria University, Patterdale Primary School, LDNP Young Rangers, The Lakes School, Outward Bound Trust, Cumbria Wildlife Trust Apprentice Conservation Officers, Outdoor Providers and members of the public.
• Find out more about our work at Glenridding Common.