The Lake District: England’s Largest National Park
The Lake District is England’s largest National Park, situated in the north west county of Cumbria. It’s a popular walking holiday destination.
When out walking, always follow the Countryside Code, to keep all creatures safe. At the coast, read how to keep dogs safe by the seaside.
England’s largest body of water is Lake Windermere (in the news these days due to issues with sewage pollution). The area has strong literary connections (William Wordsworth warned not to put a railway station at Windermere, for fears of over-tourism). He was right.
Ospreys were almost extinct a few years ago (due to hunting in Victorian times, at one point there was just one breeding pair left, in Scotland). These fish-eating birds of prey look like large brown and white gulls, and migrate over 3000 miles from West Africa, each year.
They use reversible toes (that turn 180 degrees) to hunt for slippery fish. They are such good ‘fishermen’ that around 70% of dives are successful. And if hungry, they usually catch a fish in around 12 minutes.
Their eggs often hatch one-by-one, sometimes up to 5 days apart. The birds are possibly named after the Latin word ‘ossifragus’ (it means ‘bonebreaker).
Thanks to conservation efforts in England, the birds now have a bright future. They are still only really found on Rutland Water (a large manmade lake in the East Midlands – England’s smallest county). And in Cumbria’s Lake District.
Rewilding is a big thing in the Lake District, since the last golden eagle died on the remote eastern fells (the story of how this sad loss led to a passionate project to rewild the area can be told in the book Wild Fell).
Birds of prey are wild creatures, so should always be left alone, unless you know they are injured or in danger. Parents are usually nearby, so observe if concerned. Read more on how to help England’s birds of prey.
