Keswick Mountain Festival aiming to help save Catbells

National Trust is the official charity of Keswick Mountain Festival and together, they are launching a new Catbells legacy project.

The goal is to raise £10,000 per year, which will cover the annual cost for the conservation work carried out by Fix the Fells on Catbells.

On social media, Keswick Mountain Festival wrote: "Catbells forms the back drop for KMF and is perhaps the most iconic and busiest hill in the North Lakes, and for good reason; the expansive panoramic views and varied walks make for an adventurous outing for people with all levels of experience.

"The North Lakes Fix the Fells team, along with a huge amount of help from volunteers, work tirelessly to try and combat the inevitable erosion caused by thousands of visitors.

"Whilst real progress has been made, there remains an enormous amount of work to do to create a single, sustainable surface over the hill.

"The key focus is to prevent the main path from widening, which causes loss of fragile vegetation from the sides. Due to more frequent periods of heavy rain, drainage needs to be installed to prevent the path from gullying out. In addition, work is needed every year to maintain the work that has already been done, which is no small feat in itself.

"Being one of the busiest hills in the Lake District, with an ever growing number of visitors, Catbells needs continuous help to preserve the paths and surrounding habitat for the benefit of nature and for generations of outdoor enthusiasts to come."

So far, the fundraiser has brought in more than £1,000 and Keswick Mountain Festival are inviting visitors to the festival to donate at checkout when buying a ticket. Sponsors and exhibitors are also encouraged to donate throughout the year.

KMF organisers, Triathlon Edinburgh Ltd, will donate 10 per cent of any profits from the Festival to the fund.

KMF will return in May this year with a new-look festival after taking a break in 2023.