You and the environment

As sports, Canoeing and kayaking are widely regarded to have a benign environmental impact. It is however important for all paddlers to be aware of their responsibilities in helping ensure the environment is protected and enhanced for all.

British Canoeing would like to see the outdoors open to all sustainable recreational pursuits & to all responsible recreational users.  This will enable the public to enjoy the health and well-being benefits of recreation in, on or beside water. 

You can see their campaign Clear Access Clear Waters here.

Environmental help and advice

We’re here to raise awareness of the importance of our native species and their habitats in our water environment. We are also actively involved in efforts to improve water quality in our waters, benefiting the natural ecosystem and paddlers alike. Here is guidance on how you can get involved in environmental projects, as well as information on some of the common environmental issues affecting paddlers.

The following documents deal with aspects of Canoeing & the Environment

• You, your Canoe and the Environment
• You, your Canoe and the Marine Environment
• Wildlife watching in the Walney Channel Cumbria Wildlife trust advise that canoeists/kayakers can come ashore for a rest at the groyne at South East Point, so long as they remain close to the water’s edge and avoid any flocks of resting birds. To protect the dunes and nesting birds in this area you cannot access the hide from this landing point. Further north past the boundary wall of the reserve you can come ashore where ever you like.  In addition they have recently (winter 2018) had very high levels of disturbance to the seals over the past few months – with about half as many resting on the beach as at this time last year, presumably scared away despite our efforts!

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Beach Cleans - Cumbria Wild Life Trust

Do you hate seeing plastic and other waste along our beaches? Volunteers are determined to tackle the waste that washes up on our coast line. Why not join them this autumn? They are organising beach cleans along the northern coasts on the following dates: 

• Bowness on Solway Saturday 28 September 2019 13:30 - 15:30
• North Allonby Beach Thursday 3 October 2019 10:00- 12:00
• Mawbray Banks Tuesday 8 October 2019 10:00 -12:00
• Wolsty Banks Tuesday 15 October 2019 10:00 - 12:00
• Crosscanonby Saturday 19 October 2019 10:00 - 12:00
• Silloth West Thursday 24 October 10;00 - 12:00
• Blue Dial Beach Saturday 2 November 2019 10:00 - 12:00​

For further information, including meeting places for these efforts, visit http://www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk/whats-on

 Solway Coast Beach Cleans - Fix the Firth
Come and help a group of volunteers protect the lovely Solway coast from bottles, cans, polythene, rope, tyres etc.  We hold 2-hour events every week.  All equipment provided.  Just look for the 'Beach Clean Here' sign.

• Saturday 28/9/19  1.30 - 3.30pm.  Bowness on Solway.  Meet/park on the coast road at the east end of the village near the Shore Gate House guesthouse.  This is an afternoon event to avoid the morning's very high tide due to the full moon today.
• Thursday 3/10/19 10am - 12.  North Allonby.  Meet/park in the free, northern car park beside the B5300 coast road just within Allonby village's 30 mph zone.
• Tuesday 8/10/19.  10am - 12.  Mawbray.  Meet/park in the free car park, reached via a short track off the B5300 coast road opposite Mawbray village.
• Tuesday 15/10/19.  10am - 12.  Wolsty.  Meet/park in the free, grassy car park with a brown 'Welcome' sign next to the B5300 coast road two miles south of Silloth.
• Saturday 19/10/19.  10am - 12.  Crosscanonby.  Meet/park beside the minor road to Crosscanonby near the junction with the B5300 coast road 1 mile north of Maryport.
• Thursday 24/10/19.  10am - 12.  Silloth West Beach.  Meet/park in the free car park: go past the harbour end & Silloth Golf Club & straight on over yellow speed bumps.
• Saturday 2/11/19.  10am - 12.  Blue Dial.  Meet/park in the front yard of Blue Dial Farm & Caravan Park beside the B5300 coast road 1 mile south of Allonby.

The beach cleans will continue through autumn and winter with one or two events per week depending on the amount of beach rubbish to remove.  Details are posted on cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk in the What's On pages of volunteer events.
Wellies and waterproofs advisable.  Children welcome with responsible adults.  Dogs OK.  You need walking fitness & concentration but mostly it's a great way to explore & improve our coast as part of a local group.  New volunteers welcome.  

Contact: John Gorrill 

Keswick to Threlkeld Railway Path up-date

Latest for paddlers: Bridge repair
High water levels have made work to stabilise Rawsome’s Bridge difficult, but concrete rings for the temporary supports have been constructed and a temporary weir has been installed to deflect flows from the work area. Work to rebuild and strengthen existing abutments to support the new bridge at Brundholme Bottoms is also underway.
You can find all the latest information here or by clicking on the map.