| A Summary of Local Natural History |
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The Lake District and its its environs are a rich in many different habitats. Apart from the obvious mountains and lakes of the Lake District itself, there are the costal regions, such as Morcambe Bay with their important overwintering habitats for many wildfowl. There are the forests and woodlands that are vital habitats for many birds and mammals and there are
The Lake District National Park is not a park where the animals are in fenced enclosures. All the animals are wild and there is no guarantee that you can see any particular bird or mammal in any place or at any time. Larger mammals such as |
| Borrowdale Oak Woods,('The Borrowdale Rainforest'!) within the Borrowdale Woodland SAC Complex which covers over 660 ha. These woods have the most extensive block of western old sessile oak woods in northern England. Amongst the oak stands there are small patches of Bog woodland, ash woodland and alder stands. The woods are especially rich in bryophytes and lichens and rare plants, such as touch-me-not balsam and alpine enchanter’s-nightshade can also be seen http://www.jncc.gov.uk/page-1458 |
| Dodd Wood. Another mountain Wood |
| Bassenthwaite and Ospreys |
| Red Squirrels It is possible to see red squirrels at any time when walking through the woods around Keswick, but you may have to wait quiet a few days to see one. If you want to be sure of seeing one go to somewhere like the National Trust property at Formby, Liverpool. You may see them while you are having breakfast at Rowan Keld, the last time we saw one in the garden was in Spring 2006. He stayed around for a few days feeding on peanuts and then moved on. |
| Deer Red Deer and Roe Deer are locally common and with a bit of local research your chances of seeing them are quiet good. |
| Peregrine Falcons around Derwentwater |
| Buzzards around the Newlands Valley |
| Hares on Latrigg |
| Ravens can be seen everywhere. Their calls are very characteristic, one call sounds like a snorting pig. Maybe that is the origin of the expression 'if pigs could fly ...' |
| RSPB Reserves Leighton Moss (Grid Ref SD 477750) |
| Local Nature Reserves |
| Keswick Natural History Society. This is a very well supported Society in Keswick and meets on alternate Thursdays from October to March. |
| National Park Reserves at Whinlatter Visitor Center and Forest Park, Englands only Mountain Forest for birds such as buzzard, fairly easy to see, sparrowhawk - much more difficult. Roe Deer are common but unless you are very quiet and keep your eyes and ears alert you will have no chance! |