Fellfoot Forward

Led by the North Pennines AONB Partnership, the Fellfoot Forward Landscape Partnership Scheme is a major project to conserve, enhance and celebrate the natural and cultural heritage of a special part of the North West of England. We have developed Fellfoot Forward with local communities and organisations, and in 2020 the scheme was awarded funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The National Lottery funding brings just over £2million to support the overall scheme, which will invest £3.4million in nature recovery and cultural heritage of the area. Fellfoot Forward will run from 2020 to 2024.

Our landscape

The Fellfoot landscape stretches from the Cumbrian fellside of the North Pennines AONB and UNESCO Global Geopark, to the River Eden and runs north from Melmerby to Hallbankgate.

This landscape surrounds us with 8000 years of human stories: from the Neolithic stone circle of Long Meg all the way to today’s Fellfoot communities. It is home to wildlife scarce throughout the rest of the UK, including curlew on the fells, water vole along the riverbanks and rare bumblebees in the meadows. Farming practices, many of which are generations-old, are responsible for protecting our soils, mitigating flood risks and protecting heritage features for visitors and residents.

Our work

Our work will forge creative connections between people and landscape, conserve habitats and key species and celebrate this beautiful area with its communities. Our projects are exciting and varied, and we hope there is something for everyone to get involved in. We’ll be working on citizen science; community archaeology; woodland creation and management; protecting grassland and meadows; restoring peat; conserving historic buildings; new and revitalised walking, cycling and riding routes; enhanced interpretation and information for the local community and visitors; opportunities for local schools and youth groups to engage with their local heritage; and a host of public events and learning.

We hope the scheme will provide a huge boost for the area. Our work will allow greater access to restored heritage sites and will promote a deep understanding of the Fellfoot landscape’s special cultural history. Working with partners and local communities, we aim to strengthen the visitor economy, providing a better future for residents and businesses.