As a CNHS member, you are invited to attend the events organised this spring and summer. Most walks take place at the weekend with occasional weekday evening sessions too.
If you would like more information, contact the named leader for the walk. If no contact details are supplied, email info@calislenats.uk.
Friday 25th April 2025, from 7pm:
Carlisle Natural History Society and Cumberland Bat Group – Bat Walk at Watchtree Nature Reserve
Venue: Watchtree Nature Reserve, Nr Wiggonby, Carlisle, CA5 6NL
What3Words: ///fallback.select.usual
Lead: Sam Griffin
Contact on the day: 07786318302
An evening walk around Watchtree Nature Reserve with Cumberland Bat Group. The meeting will start with checks of roosting boxes from around 7pm. The bat walk will commence at sunset. If you have a bat detector, bring it along although the Bat Group will have some to demonstrate and help to determine bat species present.
If the weather is poor that evening, we will still meet for an evening walk and look for other wildlife although bats might not be present!
Please wear suitable clothing and footwear for walking around the reserve: waterproofs recommended. Ample parking/toilets available. Walk is approx. 3 miles on mostly flat ground.
Booking recommended (to help with planning) but not required. If you would like to book, please do so here:
Saturday 21st June 2025, from 10am:
Tindale Fells and Tarn Walk
Venue: Park opposite the ‘Belted Will’ and Village Hall in Hallbankgate [NY580595; CA8 2NJ] by 10am; share cars to travel a further mile to park for walk.
What3Words: ///bracing.tidal.cool
Lead: David Clarke and Adam Moan
Contact on the day: TBC
We will visit the area below the Tindale Fells between Forest Head and Tindale Tarn. Weather permitting, we should find breeding Whinchats and Ring Ouzels, with a chance of Adders and Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary. We may hear and possibly see Grasshopper Warbler and Cuckoo, plus breeding Curlew, Redshank, Lapwing and Common Sandpiper. The beck should have Golden-ringed Dragonflies and valley now has a series of new ponds that should attract dragonflies and other wildlife. The Tarn often attracts visiting Ospreys.
The Visitor Centre at Stagsike has displays, toilets, refreshments (Honesty Box for tea/coffee) but bring water and lunch.
A circular walk of up to 4 miles, mainly on Public Rights of Way. Some moderate uphill slopes. Waterproof footwear strongly advised.
Booking required – places limited: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc8ErFsJGzNU1YClLEJ2U7ooQv_2wdgFN1qE4e6_NtdCARdHg/viewform?usp=sharing
Sunday 29th June 2025, from 10am:
Cumbria Invertebrate Group with Carlisle Natural History Society – Bolton Fell Moss Walk
Venue: Bolton Fell Moss, Hethersgill, Carlisle CA6 6JL
What3Words: ///pepper.departure.exile
Lead: David Scott-Langley and Cumbria Invertebrate Group
Contact on the day: 07792 497568
This visit to Bolton Fell Moss National Nature Reserve is led by Cumbria Invertebrate Group. The site was previously used for the commercial extraction of peat but has undergone extensive and ongoing restoration. Linking to the nearby Walton Moss, one of the most pristine bogs in Britain, the sites form a landscape of bogs supporting features typical of raised mire but also has structural features of upland blanket bog. They have a variety of Sphagnum moss species and other bryophytes, including some nationally scarce species. The rare Bog Rosemary and all three native species of sundew can be found across the sites.
Please wear suitable clothing and footwear for walking around the reserve: waterproofs recommended. There is a continuous circular boardwalk around the reserve.
Booking recommended (to help with planning) but not required. If you would like to book, please do so here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc8ErFsJGzNU1YClLEJ2U7ooQv_2wdgFN1qE4e6_NtdCARdHg/viewform?usp=sharing
Saturday 12th July 2025, 8:30-10am:
Moth Breakfast
Venue: Stephen and Alison Mott’s home in Carlisle
Contact on the day: email: stephen@mott.me.uk or mobile: 079 309 70579
Come for breakfast at the home of Stephen & Alison Mott in Carlisle and discover what moths have been caught in the garden light trap. Traps from other sites will also be explored. Coffee, tea, croissants will be available!
For catering purposes, please book your place by Thursday 10th July and state any dietary requirements at time of booking (link below). Contact details must be provided so that Stephen can contact you if the event does not go ahead due to adverse weather for mothing. Location of house will be given after booking received.
Booking required – places are limited: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc8ErFsJGzNU1YClLEJ2U7ooQv_2wdgFN1qE4e6_NtdCARdHg/viewform?usp=sharing
Saturday 6th September 2025, from10am:
Solway Wildlife
Venue: Bowness on Solway CWT Nature Reserve and RSPB Campfield Marsh, Carlisle, Cumbria CA7 5AG
What3Words: ///rhino.seasick.everyone (Campfield Marsh) and ///adverbs.zone.warping (CWT Reserve)
Lead: Mike and Anne Abbs
Contact on the day: TBC
A late summer walk around Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s Bowness on Solway Reserve which will explore the variety of habitats in this 7 hectare site including a variety of butterflies, moths and dragonflies. The walk will start and finish at Campfield Marsh (where parking and toilets are available). High tide is at 11am so there will also be an opportunity to look for migrating birds on the estuary.
Please wear suitable clothing and footwear for walking around the reserve: waterproofs recommended.
Waymarked route around the CWT reserve is 1 mile. There are boardwalks over wetter areas and a small number of steps.
Booking recommended (to help with planning) but not required. If you would like to book, please do so here: