Local Groups

There are many local interest groups in the National Landscape, many of which can give further insights into the wildlife, history or local culture.

North Lancashire Wildlife Group

North Lancashire Wildlife Group are a friendly, local group of Lancashire Wildlife Trust who meet throughout the year to share their interest in the natural world. Anyone who enjoys nature is welcome – no knowledge or experience necessary! The group arranges a spring/summer programme of outdoor events and an autumn/winter series of indoor talks, as well as publishing an annual magazine.

Website: http://www.nlwg.org.uk  

Swifts in the Community

Swifts in the Community is a project based in South Cumbria and North Lancashire, set up with the aim of conserving swifts by preserving their traditional nesting sites in local towns and villages.

Website: http://www.swiftsinthecommunity-cumbria.org.uk  

Silverdale and District Woodbank

The Silverdale District Woodbank is a community group that carries out woodland management work, producing wood fuel and aiming to help people in fuel poverty. Members help manage local woodlands and earn a small share of logs in return.

Website:  www.sdwoodbank.co.uk  

Arnside & District Natural History Society

The Arnside & District Natural History Society, formed in the 1960s, celebrates the area’s wonderful wildlife by running an extensive programme of field visits and talks. Many of its members also collect valuable records on birds, mammals and other vertebrates, botany and insects which are then shared to help map and analyse natural history sightings across the country. New members and visitors are welcome.

The A&DNHS maintain a list of plant records for the area – please find the most recent spreadsheets here:

Website: https://www.arnsideanddistrictnhs.co.uk/  

The Barnes Charitable Trust

The Barnes Charitable Trust was set up in 1992 under the terms of the will of the late John Barnes who for many years was the owner of Earnseat School. The Trust manages Ashmeadow Woodland and Crossfield, and trustees work together to maintain and enhance the woodlands for the benefit of the village. They also work to ensure that the objectives of John Barnes’s generous bequest are never forgotten by giving small grants to help the village.

Website: http://www.barnescharitabletrust.org.uk  

Lancaster Beekeepers

Lancaster Beekeepers is a friendly group of hobbyist beekeepers who meet regularly throughout the year to share experiences and develop their beekeeping skills. From their apiary in Yealand, they breed and supply stocks of bees, free from disease and well suited to local conditions, as well as offering a range of training courses, talks and workshops. The Group welcomes people new to beekeeping as well as more experienced beekeepers.

Website: http://www.lancaster-beekeepers.org.uk  

Mourholme Local History Society

The Mourholme Local History Society was formed in 1980 to look at all aspects of the history of the parish of Warton – agricultural, manorial, social, industrial – and to carry out research into some of our more prominent local families. The Society meets in Yealand Village Hall at 7.30 pm on the fourth Wednesday of the month (except the December meeting which is on the second Thursday) from September to April and runs a comprehensive programme of guest lectures. New members are always welcome.

Website: http://www.mourholme.co.uk/  

Hincaster Trailway Group

The railway line from Arnside to Hincaster (lying just outside the National Landscape) was in use from 1876 but like many small uneconomic lines it was closed and the rails removed in the Sixties. Thanks to Dallam Tower Estate, part of the old line now forms the popular embankment walk from Arnside to Sandside, and in 2008 the Hincaster Trailway Group formed to develop the Hincaster part of the line into a useable public route. The group has been a charity since 2014, and volunteers maintain the route for the benefit of the public and local wildlife.

Website: www.hincastertrailway.co.uk