Wild Haweswater announced as winner in global sustainability awards

Swindale Beck image taken by Jim Holmes / Ashden
Swindale Beck image taken by Jim Holmes / Ashden
We’re utterly delighted to have been announced as winner of the annual Ashden Award for Nature-based Solutions UK, one of seven innovative winners revealed last night at the Ashden Awards ceremony in London.

What are the Ashden Awards?

They’re a really big deal! Every year, the Ashden Awards highlight inclusive climate solutions across the globe – work that creates a fairer world, as well as lowering emissions and preparing communities for climate threats.  More than 500 organisations applied for the 2024 Ashden Awards and we were one of just two finalists in the Nature-based Solutions UK category, supported by the Lund Trust, securing our place after a rigorous assessment, judging process and input from sector experts.  Find out more about the other brilliant winners from around the world on the Ashden Awards website here.

What did we win it for?

This prestigious award is recognition of our landscape restoration work here at Wild Haweswater, in partnership with our landlord United Utilities. From the re-wiggling of Swindale Beck, to establishing Mardale Mountain Meadow, from re-wetting peat bogs, to nature-friendly farming, planting tens of thousands of trees and creating the largest native tree and plant nursery in the Lake District. All to re-nature this rugged landscape, improve drinking water, absorb carbon, and increase resilience to flooding, drought, and fire in the fight against climate change.

Warden Spike has planted thousands of trees at Wild Haweswater, with support from our dedicated team of volunteers. Image taken by Jim Holmes / Ashden
Warden Spike has planted thousands of trees at Wild Haweswater, with support from our dedicated team of volunteers. Image taken by Jim Holmes / Ashden

Our work at Wild Haweswater

By protecting the temperate rainforest of Naddle Forest, restoring upland plants and returning natural processes, Wild Haweswater is a place where wildlife can thrive; from Red Squirrels to Salmon, to Pied Flycatchers, rare Lichens, and the recently recolonised Marsh Fritillary Butterfly, this mountainous landscape holds a richness of life. 

In 2016, we (the RSPB, United Utilities, the Environment Agency and Natural England) put the natural bends back into a one-kilometre stretch of Swindale Beck, which had been artificially straightened around two centuries ago. This restoration work was to slow the flow of the river, creating suitable habitat for spawning salmon and trout, improving water quality, and contributing to reducing the risk of downstream flooding.

Swindale Beck before and after re-wiggling. Images from Google Earth and compiled by the BBC.
Swindale Beck before and after re-wiggling. Images from Google Earth and compiled by the BBC.

Our team are growing 30,000 plants about 50 different native species in our on-site tree and plant nursery and 200,000 native trees have been planted here since 2011. We have restored 200 hectares of peat bog, helping to capture carbon and 30 hectares of species-rich wildflower hay meadow. We farm 300 Cheviot Ewes, 35 Belted Galloway, Highland and Luing cattle and four native Cumbrian Fell Ponies, which all contribute to conservation grazing on the site.

Tree Nursery Officer Jo tends to thousands of Hawthorn seedlings. Image taken by Jim Holmes / Ashden
Tree Nursery Officer Jo tends to thousands of Hawthorn seedlings. Image taken by Jim Holmes / Ashden

Our work here is also about people – creating job opportunities (increasing from four-19 staff in the last three years), volunteering contributions from our hard working team of around 40 volunteersevents and experiences for the public, and knowledge sharing with those from across the agriculture, water and conservation sectors. 

Image of Visitor Experience Manager Annabel leading a group of farmers and conservationists in Swindale. Image taken by Jim Holmes / Ashden
Image of Visitor Experience Manager Annabel leading a group of farmers and conservationists in Swindale. Image taken by Jim Holmes / Ashden

Partnership working with other organisations and local communities is key to ensuring that nature-based solutions within a farmed landscape can be beneficial to the climate and both the economy and the ecology of this rugged part of the Lake District.”

“Thanks to the ongoing conservation work, salmon are breeding once more in the restored Swindale Beck, while dippers and common sandpipers fly overhead.  Once scarce Alpine plants are returning to the fells. Ring Ouzels, Redstarts and Pied Flycatchers make their nests and rare Marsh Fritillary butterflies have recolonised in the wildflower-rich meadows.”

“We’re delighted to receive this award and its only thanks to all our staff, volunteers and partners that so much has been achieved at Wild Haweswater. We are, however, in a nature and climate emergency and need to do so much more collectively to achieve our vision for net zero, restoring habitats, harnessing renewable energy, and supporting nature friendly farming for the benefit of nature, climate and people.”

Glen Swainson, our new RSPB Site Manager at Wild Haweswater

“The project at Wild Haweswater showcases nature-friendly farming at its best. As well as delivering fantastic results by enabling nature and wildlife to thrive, it also provides access to nature for the public.”

John Gorst, Catchment Partnership Officer for United Utilities, who has been working on this site for almost 20 years
From left to right – Andrew Wright (Woodland Officer, United Utilities), Faith Garvey (RSPB Livestock Assistant), Annabel Rushton (RSPB Visitor Experience Manager) and John Gorst (Catchment Partnerships Officer, United Utilities). Image thanks to Sue Wheat from Ashden.

About Ashden

Ashden, are a London-based charity, who have been spotlighting transformative climate solutions for more than 20 years through its significant Ashden Awards scheme, shining a spotlight on innovators from the public, private and non-profit sectors.  Over 260 organisations across the globe have had their work recognised in these prestigious awards. And the team at Ashden are incredible bunch of inspiring people.

The 2024 Ashden Awards champions were chosen by panels of expert judges from around the world including academics, business leaders, investors, and journalists.

“These winning organisations are brimming with epic climate ambition – ambition to slash global emissions and transform our world. They’re also pioneers of climate justice, building a world that’s fairer and greener. Change happens faster when more people believe in it, back it, and enjoy the benefits.”  

Dr Stephen Hall, Ashden’s Head of Awards

“This year’s Ashden Award winners are tackling the biggest climate challenges, in ways that also create important benefits – like new green jobs and fairer societies. Their inclusive approach is key to their success. Passion, ambition: they’ve got it all. So now we urge investors, funders, policymakers, and climate sector leaders to back and work with these trailblazers.”

Dr Ashok Sinha, Ashden CEO

The winners’ awards ceremony took place last night at the Institute of Engineering and Technology in London, during London Climate Action Week. Winners will receive financial and strategic support, which will help to continue our landscape-scale restoration work that is ongoing at Wild Haweswater. 

Watch the lovely video Ashden created about our work here

Massive thanks go to Ashden Awards for recognising our work, putting on a fantastic awards evening and for being so supportive throughout. Huge congratulations to all the truly inspirational winners and the incredible other finalists. And finally thank you to all of you who support us, we value and appreciate you all.

All seven of this years winners. From left to right: Andy Heald from Energise Barnsley, Johan du Plessis from Tepeo, Sandra Chuckwudozie from Salpha Energy, Paine Ulalia Makko from Ujamaa Community Resource Team, Claire Bakhita from Gogo Electric, Geoffrey Omoding from Patapia, me (Annabel), RSPB Visitor Experience Manager at Wild Haweswater and our fabulous host Solitaire Townsend.

– Blog by Annabel Rushton, RSPB Visitor Experience Manager at Wild Haweswater. Posted 28 June 2024.

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