Thorneythwaite Farm is situated in a tranquil setting right in the heart of the mountains. There are walks and climbs of varying degrees of challenge on the doorstep and stunning views all around.
Derwentwater is close by where many water-based activities can be enjoyed. There are some stunning walks by the lake shore and great swimming spots too. At the farm you are surrounded by beautiful views: the mountains, oak wood pastures and fields. It’s a haven of tranquility.
As well as revealing archaeological remains of an Iron Age settlement, the farm is home to many species, including barn owl, red squirrel, stoat, deer, long-eared bats and a variety of birds to name but a few. The valley is important in terms of ecology and conservation but is also incredibly valuable for the impact such beautiful surroundings can have on an individual’s well-being – National Trust, ‘Places that make us’, 2017.
Tree planting
Autumn 2018 saw the start of our tree planting programme. Each subsequent year we’ve continued to plant. We’ve definitely got the tree planting bug! Thanks to Pete Leeson from the Woodland trust and a team of brilliant volunteers we began by planting 500 trees. They are a variety of native species: Alder, Aspen, Birch, Hawthorn, Hazel, Rowan and some Oak donated by Maurice Pankhurst from the National Trust, with Crab Apple and Dogwood to come. In 2019, together with some more fabulous volunteers including the children from Borrowdale School, we planted a further 250 native trees. The children also enjoyed planting wild flower bulbs and seeds. We now have a a hedgerow running along our meadow field.
The aim is to boost the native tree species in the valley, which in turn will enrich wildlife and plant habitats.