NEW DATE! Soup Talks: John Hodgson — Restoring Hardknott Forest

Join John Hodgson, the brains behind an exciting project to restore a large commercial conifer plantation in the Duddon Valley to a wildlife rich native woodland.

John Hodgson from the Upper Duddon Landscape Recovery Project for a presentation covering the history and activities of the project, the wildlife sightings and ambitions for the future.

He’ll tell all about his work transforming Hardknott Forest primarily through gradually removing areas of non-native trees, which allows native trees such as oak, birch and willow to naturally regenerate. At the heart of the project, they’re working with natural processes to create a diverse and resilient woodland, with nature doing much of the work.

John joins us as part of our Wednesday night ‘Soup Talks’ series during which we host locals or people passing through the area to share their stories and expertise with a captive audience over a bowl of homemade soup (served before or after the talk). Often illustrated, each talk lasts approximately an hour with time for questions and informal chat. The Stable Bar is open for drinks and snacks from 5pm until 9pm.

About the speaker:

Project Officer John Hodgson has worked on the site for the past six years and combines the practical conservation work with research and monitoring, and provides opportunities for volunteering and educational visits. They work closely with other partners in the area, including farmers, local schools and other conservation groups. The project itself is a partnership between Forestry England and the University of Leeds.