Lorton and Lorton Valley
Grid Reference: NY 157257
The Vale of Lorton is a sequence of valleys leading from Cockermouth towards Keswick. In one of the lushest, prettiest parts of the Northern Lakes, the valley contains the lakes Loweswater, Crummock Water and Buttermere. At the end of the valley you can get to Keswick via Honister Pass and Borrowdale. From Lorton, Whinlatter Pass takes you through Whinlatter Forest, with its Visitor Centre to Braithwaite near Keswick.
There are many excellent walks in this area, including to the waterfall at Spout Force.
In the village of Lorton is St Cuthbert’s Church, which is worth visiting. Lorton Hall consists of a 1663 living range attached to a pele tower. It is not open to the public, but can just be glimpsed over the wall surrounding it.
Behind the site of the original Jennings Brewery, is ‘Wordsworth’s Yew Tree’. The Lorton Yew, which featured in a BBC program about Fascinating Trees, was immortalised in a poem by William Wordsworth, ‘Yew Trees’.
Not long after the poem was written, the tree, which had a 27 foot girth, was reduced to a mere 13 foot by a storm. The tree is however, still standing, and shows little sign of the storm damage to the trunk. It grows on the bank of Whit Beck, behind the Village Hall. The Cockermouth Mayor’s Chair is made from the wood of the broken half of the tree. The tree is at least 1000 years old.
Grasmoor beyond, then Melbreak and Hen Comb, from Carling Knott. Photo by Ann Bowker.
St Cuthbert’s Eco Church Initiative
St Cuthbert’s Church is an inspiring example of a modern Eco Church and in 2020 achieved the Gold Award as part of the Eco Church project.
According to the Church of England website there are currently only 11 C of E Gold Award Eco Churches. Encouragingly there are also 181 Silver and 752 Bronze Church of England Eco Churches. (April 2022).
“1 in 7 of the UK’s wildlife species is at risk of extinction.
Churchyards are important for their habitats and as refuges for wildlife and plant life. Most churches have some green space. And in some urban areas they are the only green ‘breathing’ space available for both wildlife and people.
We estimate that 10,000 of our 16,000 churches have churchyards. That’s the area of a small national park. It’s a precious resource which can make a huge difference to the biodiversity of the UK.” – Church of England website
Eco Church Project at St Cuthbert’s Church, Lorton
The text below has been taken from a draft created for use on an information board in St Cuthbert’s churchyard.
“St Cuthbert’s is a member of an initiative called Eco Church/Eco Community for which we have attained a Gold Award (see our plaque in church). We have completed a number of projects to achieve this in a variety of categories but this (board) explains what we have done to turn our living churchyard into a haven for wildlife and wildflowers.”
Wildflowers in a Cumbrian hay meadow
“On the South side of the churchyard you will find the wildflower haven we are developing, using seeds collected from wildflowers found in a Cumbrian hay meadow. Creating wildflower rich habitats takes time, but in the coming years in June and early July these wildflower havens should be full of flowers with pollinating insects hard at work. The wildflowers planted here included ragged robin, purple loosestrife, devil’s-bit scabious, water avens, and teasel, which are also perfect for pollinating insects. Similar wildflower areas have been created around the village of Lorton with backing from Lorton Parish Council.”
Pollinator garden
“A pollinator garden has been created which will be perfect for a wide range of wildlife – including damselflies, frogs and newts. The lush vegetation also provides shelter for insects, which in turn provides a food source for insectivorous birds and mammals. This is especially valuable when they are raising their hungry. Bats may even visit at dusk to feed on flying insects.”
Caterpillars, butterflies and moths
“We have also created a ‘caterpillar creche’. Did you know nettles support over 40 different species of insect, and are the caterpillar food plant of four of our most loved butterflies – the Small tortoiseshell, Red admiral, Peacock and Comma? By simply allowing a contained patch of nettles to grow somewhere sunny, you can create the perfect nettle nursery not just for butterflies but for moths and ladybirds too! We chop the nettles back in late summer to promote new growth, ready for second broods of small tortoiseshell butterfly.”
Native flora
“By encouraging native hedgerow flora to grow, we can provide shelter and wildlife corridors for hedgehogs and other wildlife to travel safely around the churchyard, and so a number of native trees and shrubs have been planted around the perimeter. These include rowan, guelder rose, holly and crab apple, as well as a bramble patch which is one of THE best habitats for British wildlife. Besides supplying a rich source of nectar and pollen attracting a multitude of pollinators, they also provide important shelter, well protected nest sites, and food in the form of sweet tasting berries for many insects, birds and mammals, including us!”
Bat, bird and hedgehog boxes
“A number of bird, bat and hedgehog boxes have also been installed – see if you can spot them.”
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