About Living Uplands
The Living Uplands project was first created in 2015 to focus the attention on one of the UK's most endangered birds, the iconic Black grouse. While developing educational resources on this species it became obvious that its story lies within a wider, richer, and massively diverse balance of nature and that there is a far bigger story to tell about the managed uplands of England. The project has expanded the range of topics we explore, informing and educating on subjects as wide ranging as the geology of upland areas, pollution, wildlife, and conservation activities, as well as learning on issues such as carbon capture and biodiversity net gain. Together, these aspects demonstrate how each has a profound impact on the balance of nature across the Living Uplands, as well as the management time, effort, passion, and investment required to sustain the landscape we know and love.
Living Uplands is working towards a comprehensive online resource that shows just what makes the Upland landscape so special and important:
- The geology beneath that helps to shape the land above;
- The water, the hydrology, that brings life and shape to the landscape;
- The flora and vegetation that changes as the Uplands rise above the lower farmland.
- The fauna that makes Uplands richly covered in special and distinct, and many endangered, species;
- The 'Life' of the Uplands - the climate and weather, and the people and places that provide community and character to this corner of England.
Next Steps
The North Pennines UNESCO Global Geopark
Along with the British Cave Research Association (BCRA) Living Uplands will be creating new resource that explain the unique maze caves of The North Pennines UNESCO Global Geopark, featuring the Fairy Holes of Upper Weardale.
Source to Sea
In collaboration with Durham Wildlife Trust, Living Uplands is supporting a project studying "source to sea" of water from the Uplands, with particular attention to plastics entering the system from Wearhead to Sunderland.
Durham Wildlife Trust would like to thank the farm owner who has made this project possible. For the security of the local Black Grouse population that partner remains anonymous.