Locals and visitors to Haweswater, near Shap, are set to get a new, indoor, community facility thanks to a £135,000 grant from FCC Communities Foundation.
The money will be used to restore a former Cumbrian spinning barn to its original appearance and create a community and visitor hub.
This will be an indoor space for hosting groups and events as well as providing information to those visiting the RSPB’s office base at Haweswater, where the nature conservation charity works in partnership with the landowner United Utilities.
Annabel Rushton, RSPB visitor experience manager at Haweswater, said: “This converted spinning barn will make a difference to locals and visitors alike. We already get lots of groups from nearby, around Cumbria and further afield coming to find out more about our work here.
“However, we don’t currently have any suitable indoor space to host them in, which isn’t ideal in the Lake District weather.
“This means we can provide a dry, comfortable place for group visits and our existing events and experiences programme, as well as being able to offer new events such as art and craft workshops and wellbeing activities for a diverse range of people.
“At times when the barn is not in use by organised groups it will be available for locals to use as a community facility and for anyone walking through on the public rights of way to pop in and find more information about our work here with United Utilities, to restore the landscape for wildlife, water and people. It’s fantastic that
FCC Communities Foundation has awarded us this money and we’re looking forward to our community and visitor hub taking shape over the next year.”
FCC Communities Foundation is a not-for-profit business that awards grants for community projects through the Landfill Communities Fund.
Richard Smith, FCC Communities Foundation senior grant manager, said: “We’re delighted to be supporting the restoration of the spinning barn and pleased our funding will benefit so many visitors to Haweswater. FCC Communities Foundation is always happy to consider grant applications for projects that improve local communities and we’re looking forward to this one making a difference very soon.”
As a former Cumbrian spinning barn, workers on the farm would have spun sheep’s wool there. The team at Haweswater are keen to see the return of the timber features that would have been present historically.
