A Lake District community interest company formed in the wake of Storm Desmond’s devastation, is seeking fresh funding partners.
Ullswater Catchment Management wants to continue delivering nature friendly farming projects around the Ullswater Valley and beyond for years to come.
Based in Glenridding, it was born from a local response to Storm Desmond in 2015 and was formally established in 2018. It was founded and is run by Danny and Maddy Teasdale.
It now works with over 70% of local farmers to restore rivers, plant hedgerows, create wetlands and wood pasture, and manage land in ways that protect both nature and livelihoods.
Working with farmers, landowners and partners, they deliver practical, place-based projects that support nature, farming and local communities.
The team have been working with the Borderlands LINC (Local Investment in Natural Capital) programme and are now seeking out potential funders in the shape of both corporate and tourism businesses to help create a new way of funding projects.
This could take the form of corporate social responsibility partnerships; or at a more local level, it could be working with tourism businesses to raise awareness of Ullswater Catchment’s work to visitors, encouraging them to support projects in the form of optional donations when booking holidays or visiting a local tourist attraction.
Ullswater Catchment help farmers and landowners adapt to the new environmental approach towards farming systems, working with local and trusted advisors and contractors. They design and deliver practical, fundable projects that improve the environment, strengthen farm business resilience, and benefit local communities. The work is simple, grounded, and tailored to place.
Danny said: “Our families have worked this land for over 200 years and that deep-rooted connection to this place drives our commitment to deliver projects that benefit nature, our landscape and the communities within it.
“Because we work at a catchment scale, and connect farmers, landowners and funding sources, the changes we support ripple out, protecting the landscape by improving soil, water, biodiversity and flood mitigation, helping the valleys be more resilient in the face of mounting environmental challenges.”
Maddy added: “As we approach the 10th anniversary of Storm Desmond this December, it’s a moment to reflect on all we have achieved in the last decade.
“Across the Ullswater catchment we have so far planted 100,000 trees in 17km of hedgerows and wood pasture creation, completed 15 river restoration projects that have improved over 6km of rivers and streams, and created 45 ponds and wetland scrapes, all within the farmed landscape.
It is exciting to think what we could achieve in our second decade by working collaboratively with businesses, both local and further afield who share our values and recognise the importance of giving back to this iconic landscape that gives us all so much.”
Ullswater Catchment’s work supporting this nationally important environment is ongoing, and with an increasing number of projects in the pipeline, they are now actively seeking out commercial partners who can help support their efforts. The team would also like to hear from Cumbrian farmers who are interested in looking at options for these type of projects on their land.
To find out more about or support the work of Ullswater Catchment, visit www.ucmcic.com
