Valley's 20-year nature recovery plan begins
UDLRA 20-year plan to restore woodland, peatlands and rivers is under way.
The Upper Duddon Landscape Recovery (UDLR) project will work with local farmers, environmental organisations and the local community to manage 2,800 hectares (6,918 acres) of land in Cumbria's Duddon Valley.
The project aims to restore habitats such as meadows, heathland and temperate rainforest, as well as help the recovery of local wildlife such as the tree pipit, pine marten and water vole.
Paddy Deady, a tenant farmer involved in the project, said the initiative will allow him to continue in the tradition of fell farming while working towards nature recovery.
Alongside Natural England, the project is being led by the University of Leeds with local farmers, the National Trust, Forestry England, South Cumbria Rivers Trust and the University of Cumbria.
Project lead Prof Dom Spracklen, from the University of Leeds School of Earth and Environment, said: "This partnership will help farming, forestry and nature work together."
He said 14 jobs will be created in the valley.
UDLRRiver restoration work will aim to improve water quality in the River Duddon and its tributaries and reduce flood risk downstream.
Deady said eight farms were being recompensed for being involved in the project.
"What landscape recovery has given me, as one of the farmers, is long-term security of income," he said.
"If I'm getting that long-term security, I'm getting more flowers, I'm getting more insects, I'm getting more birds, I've still got my Herdwicks, I've still got my cows, I'm a happy fella."
Stephen Bound, from Forestry England, said the project will help "create resilient forests full of ferns, mosses and breeding song birds".
"The challenging access to the forest for timber haulage has been a significant factor driving our restoration efforts," he added.
Timber sourced from the forest will provide the wood needed for the project, including fence posts for local farms.