Make this vision a reality
We can make this vision a reality, if we work together and do incredible things for nature. Help restore a Pennines paradise.
Feature
Help restore a Pennines paradise
Imagine a beautiful UK landscape, with lush woodland pasture teeming with birdsong where wildlife thrives. RSPB Geltsdale nature reserve is already an incredible place for wildlife. But you could make it even better. Help us restore a Pennines paradise.
On this page
Why is Geltsdale so special?
RSPB Geltsdale is simply amazing for wildlife. It covers more than 50 square km of blanket bog, heath, grassland, meadows and woodland. Not just that, it’s brimming with a wide range of species including Curlews, Golden Plovers, Ring Ouzels, Merlins and Short-eared Owls. It’s also one of the very few places where Hen Harriers nest in the UK. In 2024, eight Hen Harrier chicks fledged, the highest number for 20 years.
But RSPB Geltsdale is more than that. It’s not just a place for nature, it’s a place for future generations.
We know it could be even better, with your help.
What have we done so far?
Thanks to our supporters, we’ve already been able to do a lot of work here. We’ve restored areas of precious blanket bog, and created large areas of meadowland. We’ve removed more than 11km (7 miles) of fencing, to open up the landscape and give wildlife more access to roam.
Looking to the future
When this critical landscape came under threat, we made the decision to act. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, supporters, partners, and members like you, we’ve managed to secure a further section of this nature reserve. This increases its total area by a third and means we can go even further for nature. It’s one of the most significant land purchases in our history.
The first step is securing the land. But the real work starts now – transforming RSPB Geltsdale into a Pennines paradise.
Our vision
A place of thriving woodlands and restored wetlands, where the landscape is rich with biodiversity. We want to expand on the work that’s already been done here, welcoming more incredible and precious wildlife.
A place where Howgill Beck runs fresh and clean, teeming with fish, where insects thrive, and where threatened birds such as Merlins, Golden Plovers, and Curlews flourish among lush woodland pasture filled with birdsong.
A place that’s resilient to climate change, which can absorb more carbon, preventing it from being released into the atmosphere, and can reduce the risk of flooding downstream, which benefits local people, businesses and wildlife.
Find out more
Your donation will support the land purchase and nature conservation work at RSPB Geltsdale and other RSPB nature reserves.