Since 2002 the Flora of the Fells project has provided opportunities for people to learn about and enjoy the flora and upland habitats of Cumbria through publications, education projects and festival events.
Some key achievements are shown below:

Education
One of the most exciting and successful elements of the project has been involving Cumbria’s youngsters in learning about the richness, beauty and diversity of the Cumbrian uplands in terms of the landscape, its vegetation and management. Our philosophy is the outdoor classroom is the best learning environment.

2003
8000 leaflets distributed to introduce the Flora of the Fells project to schools and the public

2004
Art project with 4 schools in North Cumbria with over 100 children working with 4 local artists

2005 - 2006
Pilot Education project run with 7 primary, 1 secondary school and a youth club in Cumbria with over 340 children taking part. Plus variety of family events during the Flora of the Fells Festival

2007
10 primary schools, 323 children, plus family farm events Resource Pack produced for schools.

2008
Work with 13 primary schools. Over 500 children involved. Development of new schools Hay meadows project with Natural England working with 3 of the schools..  Family events with Flora of the Fells Festival

2008 - 9 
Working with 12 primary and 2 secondary schools.Over 500 children involved.  Development of climate change workshop, plus Family events

Festivals and Events
Flora of the Fells Festivals have been run every 2 years since 2004 to give people the opportunity to explore and celebrate the richness, beauty and diversity of the Cumbrian uplands.

Thousands of people have taken part in a hugely successful range of events run by the project team, partner organisations and individuals.

• Flora of the Fells Festival 2004 Over 800 people took part in 64 events throughout
Cumbria, with a touring exhibition visited by more than 5000 people

• Flora of the Fells Festival 2006 Over 2000 people took part in 167 events including
the new Cumbria Farm Day events

• Flora of the Fells Festival 2008 – Over 1000 people took part in 132 events including
Farm Day events despite the challenging summer weather!

• Flora of the Fells Festivals 2009 – four local festivals are planned around our Landscape
Guide areas of Ennerdale, Helvellyn, Loughrigg and the Kendal Limestones
(Scout and Cunswick Scars).

Publications
A series of publications have been developed over the years to raise awareness about the special nature of the upland landscapes and habitats of the Lake District and North Pennines:

• Flora of the Fells (2003) – celebrates the special nature and flora of Cumbria’s mountain
landscapes

• Tarns of the Fells (2005) – tells the fascinating story of Cumbria’s tarns

• Flora of the Fells Landscape Guides (2005 & 2008) - seven leaflets focusing on the
natural history of some of Cumbria’s key mountain ranges – Skiddaw, Helvellyn
North Pennines, Scafell, Loughrigg, Kendal Limestone (Scout and Cunswick Scars),
Ennerdale

• Picturing Upland Landscape Futures (2007) - joined up thinking on landscape policies
in the Lake District and North Pennines

• Mission Possible: Can We Save Cumbria from the Impact of Climate Change? (2008)
Highlighting what climate change is all about and how it might affect the mountains of
Cumbria and the Lake District.

All these publications are available to purchase through our shop and some are available to download

Partnerships
Partnership working is key to the success of the Flora of the Fells project. New links and strong working partnerships have been developed through the project between Friends of the Lake District and a wide range of organisations and individuals in the Lake District and the North Pennines, including:

Natural England
Lake District National Park Authority
Carlisle City Council
Cumbria Farmers Network
Cumbria Wildlife Trust
Cumbria Woodlands
Cumbria Tourism
East Cumbria Countryside Project
Eden LA21
Federation of Cumbrian Commoners
Field Studies Council
Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust
John Muir Award
Lakeland Dialect Society
Low Luckens Organic Resource Centre
National Trust
North Pennines AONB Partnership
Our Green Space
RSPB
Schools across Cumbria
Save Our Squirrels
Tullie House
Nurture Lakeland
Ullswater Association
Walking for Health Initiative
Warcop Range Ministry of Defence
Wealth of Wildlife
Wild Ennerdale
Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust - Hay Time Project

We are continuing to build partnerships in 2009 and 2010.