A secret side to Foulshaw Moss Nature Reserve with Cumbria Wildlife Trust

Join the experts from Cumbria Wildlife Trust on a half-day experience to see the Secret Side of Foulshaw Moss.

Saturdays From 12 February 2022, through to May.  £35 including tour,  refreshments and drinks.

We are proud to be corporate sponsors of the important charity, Cumbria Wildlife Trust who look after the amazing wildlife and habitats in our County.  They have put on a series of unique experiences at Foulshaw Moss Nature Reserve, giving you exclusive access with our Nature Reserve and Education officer, Danni Chalmers.

‘The Secret Side of Foulshaw Moss’. starts with a brisk stroll through the privately owned Ulpha Wood, following the trail the very southern edge of the Moss, with views towards the imposing Whitbarrow Scar.

Continuing on to a private hide overlooking this amazing wetland habitat, you’ll stop for a sweet brunch (think scones and croissants) and a hot or cold drink to fuel you for plenty of wildlife spotting.

Wildlife Spotting c Steve Finch Cumbria Wildlife Trust

Once you’re refreshed, scopes and binoculars will be handed out (feel free to bring your own!) and settle in to watch for some superb wildlife, in the hands of an expert.

The experience lasts around 2.5 hours – it may vary slightly depending on which wildlife you see and when.

Foulshaw Moss Nature Reserve is a very special area of peatland near Witherslack, in South Lakeland. Managed and owned by Cumbria Wildlife Trust, it is renowned for the pair of ospreys that return from west Africa every summer to breed.

But there’s a lot more to see here than these majestic birds of prey. A wonderful array of wildlife can be seen thanks to an ambitious, 15-year restoration programme by Cumbria Wildlife Trust.

Cotton Grass at Foulshaw Moss c Bex Lynam

The nature reserve is a precious peat bog, formed over thousands of years. Draining and tree planting in the 1950s and 60s meant much of the wetland wildlife was lost. After years of clearing trees and rewetting the bog, the peatland is now full of mossy hummocks and pools.  You’ll find water-loving plants in abundance, such as Sphagnum moss, carnivorous sundews, cranberry and bog-rosemary.

In summer, you’ll see masses of the soft white heads of cotton grass. The restored peatlands provide the perfect habitat for the amazing wildlife we find there today.

Otter c Andy Rouse

Winter walks

This peaceful nature reserve offers something special for all wildlife enthusiasts, with a well-designed series of boardwalks around the nature reserve, making visiting easy-going. Keep your eyes peeled for:

• Wildfowl and wading birds, searching for food on the areas of open water.
• Otters carving a line through the water.
• Red deer running through the woods.
• Marsh harriers swooping low to hunt for prey.

Summer strolls

Summer is the time to see an abundance of breeding birds, many of which have migrated thousands of miles to breed in our more temperate climate. Dragonflies zip through the warm air, and you might spot a hobby (a small falcon) hunting them over the reedbeds. Deer and otters may also make an appearance. Keep your eyes on the sky to see the ospreys pass over on their way to the Kent estuary. The young birds are often seen practising their fishing technique before making their migration later in the year.

Marsh Harrier c Andrew Parkinson

When can I go?  On Saturdays from February-May

For more details and to book go here

Find out more about the Foulshaw Moss ospreys

Browse our cottages in the South Lakes here