1. Repairing and maintaining the drystone wall

We have more or less completed restoration of the wall, but will of course now maintain it in good condition.

2. Restoring the lime kiln

The lime kiln has now been stabilised and restored with the kind help of a grant from Friends of the Lake District. We will of course now maintain it when necessary to prevent further deterioration.

3. Re-surveys of the ground flora to monitor recovery

These are a key measure of our success in improving the biodiversity of the wood, and will be conducted when necessary.

4. More comprehensive surveys of bryophytes and fungi

We are aware that our plant surveys to date probably missed quite a few bryophytes, and we have yet to consider fungi.

5. Surveys of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates

We have now recorded 5 species of bats, 36 species of birds, and 107 species of night-flying moths.
We would be keen to hear from local people with expertise in the surveying and recording of other species of wildlife, and intend to start recording insects in addition to moths, including butterflies and beetles.

6. Hazel coppicing

We have now coppiced five coupes around the wood, and plan to re-coppice these areas in 5-10 year’s time. The increased light penetration in these coupes is triggering the germination of dormant seeds of flowering plants and allowing the ground flora to become more diverse. It has also led to more bramble growth, but this is to be welcomed as bramble forms a good habitat for many species.

7. Sycamore thinning and beech seedling removal

We have now removed 400 sycamores from the southern half of the wood. The objectives are similar to coppicing – to introduce more sunlight. Removal of beech seedlings is on-going as the leaves of this species are toxic to most other plants.

8. Creation of rides and glades

We have already widened the cross-path into a ride, and are now planning to construct a grassy glade in the north-western quadrant of the wood, an area largely consisting of sycamores and ash at present. The purpose of this work is to introduce more boundary areas between habitats, zones which are known to attract more species than woodland or grassland alone.

9. Working with local people

We are interested in working with local people to explore the pleasures of our natural environment, including wildlife identification, practical forestry and woodland crafts. Lindale Primary (an Eco-School) is using the wood for a variety of educational purposes and we are keen for this to continue. We are also interested in the history of Lime Kiln Wood and would welcome pointers to possible sources of information (including old photographs). If you have an idea for a project, please get in touch with us.