TILBERTHWAITE FARM

CONISTON

• THE FARM
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• ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES
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• VISITORS

ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES

Tilberthwaite Farm lies within the Cumbrian high fells which have a mosaic of high craggy peaks and screes, heaths, mires, peatland, heather moorland, acid grassland and bracken. 

The farm is located in a narrow valley bottom rising steeply to fells of rocks and crags.  Woodland is a distinctive feature with ancient woods in the valley, and a large display of Juniper can be seen from the valley of Little Langdale.

GEOLOGY

The farm sits on the Borrowdale Volcanic group. Mines and quarries on two areas of fell land on the farm have been designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for their rock outcrops, mine spoil and disused mine workings. 

Birk Fell Hawse Mine on the Tilberthwaite fells has also been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for its mineral vein deposits which are typical of Lake District late Devonian copper veins.

More information about mining in the Lake District can be seen at Keswick Mining Museum (www.keswickminingmuseum.co.uk) and at Threlkeld Quarry and Mining Museum (Tel 017687 79747).

 

FLORA

As well as extensive areas of heather moorland on the fells, Tilberthwaite Gill has been designated as a SSSI for its “montane” habitat of tall herb vegetation growing on its cliffs.

The farm is noted for its stands of Juniper which is one of only 3 native conifers in Britain. 

The woodland in Close Hill Quarry and Close Hill Coppice is designated as “ancient and semi natural woodland”.

 

© Copyright 2007

FAUNA

Red squirrels have been sighted on the farm.

ARCHAEOLOGY

English Heritage has listed Greenburn Copper mines and associated ore processing works as a scheduled ancient monument of national importance.  The site includes the remains of the mining operations and the ore processing works which are located over a large area on the farm. 

It is thought that mining at Greenburn started in 1690 and underwent its most intensive period of production and expansion in the 1860s until finally ending in 1940 when the Greenburn and Tilberthwaite Mining Company was dissolved.

 

HEDGEROWS

Tilberthwaite farm has mostly dry stone walls with very few hedgerows.

DRY STONE WALLS

The farm has a very high density of dry stone walls with a lot of walls on the "intake" land.  When Dorothy Wilkinson’s father took over the tenancy he reinstated a lot of the walls between the intake and fell land and the family carries out all their own walling.

VERNACULAR BUILDINGS & FEATURES

The farmhouse dates from the early 18th century and has slate roves and verandas. There is also an adjacent cottage constructed from slate.  The farm was once owned by Beatrix Potter who bequeathed the farm to the National Trust on her death.