New Lab to Focus on Upland Landscape Research in Cumbria
A purpose-built facility will serve as a hub for scientists, universities, and students studying the environmental response of Cumbria's upland areas.
A new laboratory has opened at RSPB Wild Haweswater in Penrith, Cumbria, designed to become a central base for the investigation of the region's upland landscapes and their response to nature recovery efforts. The facility aims to foster collaboration among scientists, universities, and students, facilitating fieldwork and the sharing of expertise.
The lab was funded by the estate of the late ornithologist Denis Summers-Smith. "We want to build on Denis's commitment to field ecology and conservation research, creating a lasting legacy that will benefit both science and nature recovery in Cumbria and beyond," said RSPB's Will Peach.
The research facility will support ongoing work by Cumbria Connect, an initiative that monitors Wild Haweswater, the Lowther estate, and the Lowther Valley. According to Dr. Mo Verhoeven, a conservation scientist at Cumbria Connect, Cumbria's uplands feature diverse environments such as peatlands and rainforests, which are crucial for carbon storage and water management.
"Cumbria's uplands are incredibly important for nature recovery," Dr. Verhoeven stated. "We hope this laboratory will give researchers, students and conservationists a place to work together and build the evidence needed to guide restoration, both here in Cumbria and in upland landscapes further afield. It's about making Cumbria a much stronger base for upland science."
In addition to research, the lab is intended to contribute to training the next generation of environmental scientists. Cumbria Connect is part of a project funded by the Arcadia Fund, co-founded by one of the heirs to the Tetra Pak fortune.