Millions of people visit the Lake District every year to enjoy its mountains, wildlife and freedom to roam. Most leave with positive memories and little intention of causing harm. Yet every stone removed from a wall, every gate left open, every dog allowed to roam and every piece of litter left behind can have consequences. This article explores the hidden environmental cost of countryside access and asks how visitors can help protect the landscapes they love.

Explore the complex role of bracken (Pteridium aquilinum) in the Lake District - its ecological benefits, biodiversity threats, and the challenge of managing its spread.

The hawthorn is both wicked and welcome - its thorns draw blood, yet it nurtures ecosystems, hearts, and heritage. Revered in folklore, medicine, and conservation, it supports biodiversity, stabilises soil, and symbolises both fertility and boundaries. This enduring tree bridges science and myth, offering shelter, sustenance, and stories across centuries.

Whenever I climb the Lake District’s Great Gable (899 metres) [i] , I usually have whisky on my mind. This time it was climate change...

Modern Haweswater Whenever I visit Haweswater, I admit to feeling depressed. Despite its evident beauty and the fact it is so remote,...

Week 8 Once again this is a long one, albeit shorter than others I have written, so I have not divided it into two portions. However, you...

Week 6 Once again this is a long one, so please be prepared, as the topic is serious. I have broken the text halfway, so that you can...

Week 4 This is a long one, so please be prepared, as the topic is serious. I have broken the text halfway, so that you can recharge your...

Week 2 Introduction There are few better ways of seeing the effects of climate change than standing atop a Lake District mountain. I had...

Week 53 It is fitting that I write this final blog of the year as another storm assaults Lakeland[i]. This time it is Storm Gerrit. There...

Week 49 I hope I have not done the wrong thing. I have been dithering for several weeks as to whether I should transplant some trees from...