**New sessions for 2025/2026 now available**
All events are listed in the table – click on the links for more information about the course or go to the booking link to secure your place. Ticket prices vary from free for some events to £10 for the mock FISC although most events are £2.50 for half day or £5 for full day or pay what you can.
All tickets can be booked directly from TicketSource: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/cumbria-ecoskills except the Hedgerow Management & Surveying Day on Friday 6th March 2026 which is delivered by the Friends of the Lake District and should be booked directly from their site: a small number of places have been added to this course for Cumbria Ecoskills so please state this on your booking.
| Date | Training course | Location | More info | Booking link (TicketSource) |
| Fri 28 Nov 2025 | Trees: from Seeds to Saplings | Growing Well Tree Nursery, Tebay Services Northbound, CA10 3SB | Course overview | Booking open
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| Sat 31 Jan 2025 | Introduction to Mosses & Liverworts | CWT Plumgarths, Crook Road, Kendal, LA8 8LX | Course overview | Booking open
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| Tues 10 Feb 2026 | Coppicing Workshop | CWT Brown Robin Nature Reserve | Course overview | Booking open
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| Fri 13 Feb 2026 | Orchard Management | CWT Gosling Sike, Carlisle, CA3 0LD | Course overview (coming soon) | Booking open
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| Weds 18 Feb 2026 | Recording Wildlife for Farmers and Landowners | Penruddock Village Hall, Penrith CA11 0QU | Course overview (coming soon) | Booking open
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| Tues 24 Feb 2026 | Hedgelaying Workshops | Eden Valley (farm location tbc) | Course overview | Booking open
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| Date TBC | Introduction to Mapping Habitats using GIS | Online | Course overview (coming soon) | Booking opens soon
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| Fri 06 March 2026 | Hedgerow Management & Surveying Day | Cannerheugh Farm, Renwick, Penrith, CA10 1LA | Course overview | Booking open (via Friends of the Lake District)
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| Thurs 19 March 2026 | Habitat Surveying using UKHab | Loweswater Village Hall, Loweswater, Cockermouth CA13 0RU | Course overview (coming soon) | Booking open
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| Fri 20 March 2026 | Identifying Priority Habitats | Threlkeld Village Hall, Main Street, Threlkeld, Cumbria, CA12 4RX | Course overview (coming soon) | Booking open
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| Sat 11 April 2026 | Introduction to Birds | Newbiggin Village Hall, Newbiggin, Penrith, CA11 0HT | Course overview (coming soon) | Booking open
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| Fri 15 May 2026 | Introduction to Butterflies | Bothel Village Hall, Wigton CA7 2HL | Course overview | Booking open
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| Sun 17 May 2026 | Introduction to Small Mammals | Skelsmergh Community Hall, Helme Lane, Kendal LA9 6NU | Course overview | Booking open |
| Fri 22 May 2026 | Introduction to Bees | Orton Market Hall, Orton, Penrith CA10 3RU | Course overview | Booking open
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| Sat 23 May 2026 | Introduction to Moths | CWT Gosling Sike, Carlisle, CA3 0LD | Course overview | Booking open |
| Fri 29 May 2026 | Field Identification Skills Certificate Mock Exam | CWT Gosling Sike, Carlisle, CA3 0LD | Course overview | Booking open
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Download a poster (which will be updated as more events are confirmed!):
More about the project:
CBDC is very proud to launch the Growing Ecoskills project with partners Bothel Community Wildlife Group, Matterdale Nature Watch and Orton Wildlife and Landscape (OWLs), thanks to funding from the Royal Countryside Fund and National Lottery Community Fund.
The project will develop a programme of ecological and natural history training courses for members of the three community groups, with places available for members of other wildlife-focused groups and interested individuals from across Cumbria. The courses are being co-developed by the four partners, with training provided by local experts whenever possible. The programme is below and will be updated as courses are added.
The courses are all aimed at providing upskilling opportunities which will lead to improved community provision, new entrepreneurship opportunities and business diversification.
Training sessions will include wildlife identification courses, including an introduction to terrestrial invertebrates and plants found in species-rich grassland. Habitat surveying, wildlife gardening and development of self-guided wildlife walks will also feature, alongside CBDC delivered sessions on wildlife recording. As the project develops, courses will be added to the programme and will include an autumn/winter programme.
The project runs from April 2025 until May 2026. If you are interested in getting involved – as a course attendee or as a trainer – we would like to hear from you. Do get in touch via the project enquiry form or book your ticket via TicketSource (use password: cumbriaecoskills if asked).
Tea and coffee provided but please bring snacks/lunch. For invertebrate and botanical courses, do bring a hand lens which can be purchased from online retailers and Summerfield Books in Penrith (from £4).
Past programme:
| Date | Training course | Location | More info | Booking link (TicketSource) |
| Mon 09 June 2025 | Introduction to Invertebrates | Bothel Village Hall, Wigton CA7 2HL | Course overview | Closed
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| Weds 11 June 2025 | Introduction to Invertebrates | Orton Market Hall, Orton, Penrith CA10 3RU | Course overview | Closed |
| Mon 07 July 2025 | Identification of Grasses, Sedges & Rushes | Gosling Sike, Carlisle, CA3 0LD | Course overview | Closed
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| Fri 25 July 2025 | Botanical Identification | Orton Market Hall, Orton, Penrith CA10 3RU | Course overview | Closed
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| Sat 26 July 2025 | Introduction to Habitats, Surveying & UKHab | Penruddock Village Hall, Penrith CA11 0QU | Course overview | Closed
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| Sunday 14 Sept 2025* | Creating Self-Guided Walks* | Orton Market Hall, Orton, Penrith CA10 3RU | Course overview | Closed
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| Saturday 20 Sept 2025 | Wildlife Gardening | Bothel Village Hall, Wigton CA7 2HL | Course overview | Closed
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*Split across two weekends: 14th September for main course followed by a session on Sunday 21st September OR online session on Monday 22nd September.
More sessions and dates will be added as they are developed.
Funders:
