
YSG Site Visits Spring 2024
September 28, 2024
YSG Site Visits Summer 2024
October 20, 2024Students taking the Land Based Studies course at Kirkbie Kendal School made three site visits to Wild Garsdale Pike over the summer. During the first session they explored our peat bog, learned about the importance of peat both as an ecosystem and as a carbon sink. We discussed how peat has been damaged by inappropriate management strategies – like digging grips (ditches) to drain it, which is a problem that we have on our land, and planting trees which is seen in other areas of Cumbria where commercial conifer plantations have been planted on peat bogs.


During their second visit we explored what trees we have at Garsdale Pike and how we could add to these, to both improve biodiversity and capture carbon. We discussed different tress species and how many other species they each support and how much carbon they capture. We also looked at ways trees can be planted – comparing our areas of scrub with more wooded areas around the gills.









Tree planning – exploring species and where to plant.
During their third visit we calculated the carbon in three different trees: a large ash tree, a hawthorn and a rowan. That was hard work – measuring the height and diameter and then doing all the calculations – but we did it! And we were then able to discuss what stores more carbon – peat or trees.
Looking forward to seeing a new group next year!
