Simple ways to help include walking/cycling & horse riding directly from your cottage door - for more refer the bottom of the page.

At Borwick Fold Cottages we’re helping to care for this living landscape by managing our land for wildlife and by raising funds through our guests to help support a variety of projects.

There are many ways in which you can help us to support the work of the Conservation Partnership which includes restoring footpaths & dry stone walls, providing wildlife habitats, conserving native flora and fauna and  erecting red squirrel warning signs and rope bridges at key sites and much more. You will find details of ways to help in your cottage.

Opposite -part of the view from the wildlife-hide on Borwick Fold

Kasper and Cally - two of our pygmy goats helping with conservation at Borwick Fold Cottages - that's our excuse for having them!

In 2005 - A number of us in this valley set up the Esthwaite Green Link [see opposite]: -

Current issues  under discussion

·        How to Reduce – Reuse – Recycle waste

·        Cleaning without damaging the environment

·        The chemical environment which surrounds us

·        Water – its conservation and uses

·        Renewable energy

·        Transport

·        Packaging

·        Canvassing Organisations

·        Bulk Shopping

This means taking responsibility for our cottages so that they don't degrade the environment but do benefit local people. When we created Borwick Fold Cottages the major part of the barn and stables were obsolete as the farmhouse was sold with just a small paddock. Creating the cottages has provided local employment and conserved an historic bank barn without removing any of the existing housing from local occupation. The materials were locally sourced and local craftsmen did the conversion.

Our environmental projects are ongoing - they include re-cycling, replacing lighting with energy saving bulbs, fazing out chemical cleaning/washing products [2005 we now clean with micro cloths and environmentally friendly products and use eco balls in the washing machine], sava-plugs on fridges, planting for wildlife & organic  gardening/land management.

The Esthwaite Green Link.

[see opposite for details]

In 2000 Cumbria was given the worlds first Green Globe Destination Award yet because of Climate Change our valley is at risk. Globally Governments & scientists are working to slow down & redress the damage humankind has done to our world

We are a group of local people who live in one of the most unique & beautiful places on earth.  We think that we can protect this valley for ourselves and for our children’s children - or at least that we can try.

Come and add your voice – or just  listen! Do let us know on arrival if you are interested in attending a meeting [no longer held on fixed dates but as issues arise] we periodically have speakers.

Borwick Fold Cottages - a living environment

Supporting conservation and the environment

Borwick Fold stands in 3 ½ acres and is managed for wildlife –it operates on organic principles.

• A major part of the planting involves native species and is weighted towards conserving, attracting and providing habitat for wildlife.
• The pond created in the courtyard, behind Tack Room and Stable Cottages, has increased the diversity of bird life, as has the feeding station close by. It supports frogs, insects and, dragonflies, and even though the pond has no fish, the heron frequently visits. 
• Swallows nest in the barn which opens onto this yard and house martins nest under the eves of the farmhouse and the cottages.
• Scroggs [the wild fell land beyond the Boule pitch] – hosts and is visited by a wide variety of wildlife including deer, red squirrels, owls and woodcock. We have created a wildlife drinking hole/pond at the far end and put a Hide for viewing near by. The Hide has superb views of the high fells and an additional large side window which is perfect for artists.
• 2003 -  we released rescue hedgehogs.
• Our Pygmy Goats are also working for the environment – they have already made inroads in controlling the brambles, which were taking over the field behind the cottages. They are assisted at times in the summer by Exmoor ponies.

Visitors to the Lake District usually care passionately about it, are responsible tourists and want to put something back in to the area. If you want to participate you can take advantage of the following facilities - We: -

·    Provide parking and offer facilities and information to help you to walk, cycle and ride from your door.

·    Operate a ‘visitors support conservation work scheme’  by asking you to donate your spare change during your visit to the 'Lake District Conservation Partnership' [refer Links page]- details in your cottage. Your Visit therefore helps to conserve the beauty of the Lake District National Park for the future.

·    Provide a recycling centre for newspapers & magazines, tins & bottles, plastic and cardboard – a compost heap for raw vegetable peelings, which eventually feed the land.

• Browse the 'Environment' folder in your cottage for ideas on how to help the environment & save yourselves money.