Wild Fell: Fighting for nature on a Lake District hill farm

This is the story of a landmark RSPB project to restore over 3,000 hectares of the Lake District, from the tiniest wildflowers up to majestic golden eagles.

In 2015, England’s last and loneliest golden eagle died in an unmarked spot among the remote eastern fells of the Lake District. It was a tragic day for the nation’s wildlife, but the fight to restore the landscape had already begun.

Lee Schofield, ecologist and site manager for RSPB Haweswater is leading efforts to breathe life back into 3,000 hectares of sprawling upland habitat. In his search for inspiration, Lee has sought out England’s rarest mountain flower and travelled from the wild fells of Norway to the pristine meadows of the Alps.

But in the contested landscape of the Lake District, change is not always welcomed, and success relies on finding a balance between rewilding and respecting cherished farming traditions. This is not only a story of nature in recovery, it is also the story of Lee’s personal connection to place, and the highs and lows of working for nature amid fierce opposition.

Wild Fell is a call to recognise that the solutions for a richer world lie at our feet; by focusing on flowers, we can rebuild landscapes fit to welcome the majestic golden eagle again.

A landscape of flowers is a landscape of hope.