For Wildlife, Water and People
Nestled in the rugged heart of the eastern Lake District, Wild Haweswater stands as a testament to what’s possible in large-scale nature restoration.
As one of two core sites in the Cumbria Connect programme, Wild Haweswater is transforming landscapes and revitalising ecosystems to benefit wildlife, water and people.
The 3,000-hectare Haweswater site, vital for supplying water to over 2 million people in North West England, is managed through a pioneering partnership between the RSPB and landowner United Utilities. For over a decade, it has been a hub for ground-breaking nature recovery work. Here, they’re tackling the big challenges—restoring woodlands, rejuvenating rivers, rewetting peatlands and embracing nature-friendly farming—and they’re showing that it works.
Now, as part of the Cumbria Connect programme, Haweswater’s transformative journey is extending beyond the site’s boundaries, linking habitats across the landscape with its closest neighbours, creating resilient nature corridors that support wildlife, protecting water resources and creating a wilder, more resilient future for nature and people alike.
Wild Haweswater, rewilding in the Lake District
A Cumbrian landscape undergoing a wild transformation
Once heavily modified for agriculture, the landscape of Wild Haweswater is now being restored by the RSPB and United Utilities into a mosaic of habitats transforming diverse ecosystems, vibrant uplands and healthy waterways supporting iconic species such as Atlantic Salmon, Red Squirrels and the rare Pied Flycatcher.
The landscape comprises three strikingly diverse valleys: Swindale, Mardale and Naddle.
Swindale
Swindale is a shining example of ecological restoration. A once artificially straightened river in the valley, or beck as they are known in Cumbria, was ‘re-wiggled’ as part of restoration efforts helping to restore its natural flow. Wild Atlantic Salmon have returned, spawning in the ‘re-wiggled’ Swindale Beck and the river restoration project has been recognised with a number of Awards.
Restored riverways not only boost wildlife but also slow down floodwaters and enhance water quality, safeguarding Haweswater Reservoir—a critical source of drinking water for 2 million people across Cumbria and the northwest.
To read more about this Award-Winning Project click on the link.
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Surrounded by steep fells, including Harter Fell and High Street, Mardale is characterised by its dramatic scenery with wild, upland grasslands and rocky outcrops. Its rugged paths attract hikers and wildlife enthusiasts.
In 2017, the Wild Haweswater team, working with the Alpine Garden Society and Natural England, established the Mardale Mountain Meadow. They fenced off an area of species-poor, acid grassland the size of 75 football pitches, keeping sheep and deer out, allowing nature to take the lead.
Seeds from the surrounding crags, carried by the wind and streams, began to settle and grow. Mossy saxifrage, wild thyme and mountain sorrel now thrive alongside young trees like Rowan and Birch, creating a diverse habitat that supports butterflies, birds and insects.
Volunteers accelerated this recovery by planting native species such as globe flower, melancholy thistle and the rare Pyramidal Bugle (one of Cumbria Connect’s key species), demonstrating how active restoration and nature’s resilience can revive degraded ecosystems.
Naddle Valley is a patchwork of upland heath, meadows and one of England’s rarest and most precious habitats – temperate rainforest. This ancient woodland, with gnarled oaks and birches draped in lush green mosses, ferns and lichens feels almost primeval.
Over 200,000 native trees have been planted at Wild Haweswater, helping to expand the ancient oak woodlands that once flourished.
From 2024, Naddle Forest is being extended with a large-scale tree planting scheme set to plant or protect 16,500 trees over the next three years. This project will enhance the region’s biodiversity by adding native species like Sessile Oak, Rowan and Juniper, and protect critical habitats for wildlife.
Naddle Forest, once common across Britain, is now a rare ecosystem and this project will contribute to its restoration, supporting species such as Red Squirrels and Pied Flycatchers.
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A New Model for Restoring Nature
Since 2011, Wild Haweswater has evolved into a model for how nature restoration can work side-by-side with traditional farming. This isn’t a small-scale effort; it’s a sweeping transformation of land and water.
At the core of the project is a committed team of 18 RSPB conservationists and over 35 volunteers, who bring their energy to tasks like planting trees, surveying wildlife and helping manage the farm. Their passion and hands-on support are essential, driving the project’s momentum and growth.
Farming with Nature in Mind
Alongside nature restoration, Wild Haweswater’s farming practices reflect a new approach—one that respects the needs of both nature and people. The farms are managed by husband and wife team, David and Faith Garvey. The RSPB team have reintroduced native grazers like Fell Ponies, Belted Galloway and Highland cattle, and Cheviot sheep to re-establish balanced grazing regimes that support wildflower meadows, tree growth and insect populations.
By carefully managing grazing pressure, Wild Haweswater is fostering conditions that allow upland flora and fauna to thrive, showing how farming can produce food while nurturing wildlife and sustaining ecosystems.
Connecting with People: Bookable Wild Experiences
Visitors to Wild Haweswater can experience its secluded beauty, venturing along rugged trails, ancient woodlands and open moorlands. With no visitor centre or café, this is a place to fully engage with nature.
Wild Haweswater instead offers visitors a unique chance to immerse themselves in its conservation landscape. Through bookable wildlife experiences, visitors can explore the habitats of red squirrels, photograph woodland birds and spend an evening in the renowned badger hide.
These carefully curated experiences showcase the beauty of the restored landscapes and offer a rare glimpse into the life of Wild Haweswater’s wildlife, from the playful antics of red squirrels to the quiet presence of badgers in their natural habitat.
Experiences include:
Increasing connectivity in the landscape
Cumbria Connect is working closely with Wild Haweswater to create a more connected and thriving landscape beyond its boundaries. Together, we’re delivering impactful projects that restore habitats, boost biodiversity and inspire sustainable land management across the Lowther Valley.
Cumbria Connect has supported the expansion of Wild Haweswater’s native plant and tree nursery, enabling it to become the largest of its kind in the Lake District. With support from the Endangered Landscapes & Seascapes Programme, the RSPB has scaled up operations to meet growing demand for locally sourced species. Producing 30,000 saplings and herbaceous plants each year from locally-collected seeds ensuring ecological integrity, the nursery fuels vital rewilding projects across the valley, helping to create resilient habitats for the future.
We’ve also helped reintroduce 365 water voles to the Lowther Estate and Wild Haweswater, bringing these charismatic creatures back to their rightful place in Cumbria’s rivers and wetlands. Partnering with Eden Rivers Trust and the Environment Agency, this project ensures that water voles can thrive once again, marking a significant step forward for river and wetland restoration.
Our Nature-Friendly Farming Apprenticeship Scheme is shaping the next generation of conservationists and land managers. Based across three farms including Wild Haweswater, apprentices gain hands-on experience in sustainable farming, livestock management and habitat restoration. By integrating farming with conservation, they’re at the forefront of creating a sustainable future for Cumbria’s landscapes.
Through these projects and more, Cumbria Connect and Wild Haweswater are building a greener, wilder, and more sustainable future for the Lowther Valley and beyond.
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