The Mammals of Lakeland

Extract

The Faunal Area of Lakeland comprises Cumberland, Westmorland and Lancashire North of the Sands. Relatively well defined, mainly by sea coast and lengthily by the Pennines, it originates in the central mountain mass cradling many broad waters, which is the Lake District of universal appeal. This lake and fell region and its surroundings extending to about two-thirds of the whole area, is the Lake District National Park, the first park to be designated by the National Parks Commission. During the present century, the National Trust has acquired many properties with a view to preserving their natural amenities. On the other hand, towns and villages have spread apace, following upon all those human enterprises which, through the ages, have transformed the land into its present state. Besides agriculture there are, for example, the sheep-rearing industry, with its effect on hill vegetation and bygone mining activities to which so much of the native tree growth was sacrificed. Now the work of the Forestry Commission is bringing a new aspect to parts high and low between the northern and southern limits of the area. Some older features remaining to be considered in relation to the wild animal life are the varied tree plantations on the landed estates, together with well wooded river valleys and still extensive birch and pine-fringed peat mosses. Sweeping though they have been down the centuries, the surface changes in Lakeland have had far from a completely adverse effect on the native mammals. While for some the fells have perhaps meant salvation, there are two of the most ancient residents which, from mere survival, have rather astonishingly increased and spread.