The Rusland Horizons Trust Limited was the successor organisation to The Rusland Horizons Landscape Partnership Scheme (RHLPS).
The Rusland Horizons Trust Limited was established in 2019 to continue the work of Rusland Horizons. It was an entirely different entity to the original RH Landscape Partnership Scheme and was independent of any partner organisations. It was established initially as a registered charity through merging with an existing charitable organisation called ‘Woodmanship Limited’, formed in 1987 but no longer active. Its role had been to further the work of Walter Lloyd, a well-known Coppicer and Woodman in the South Lakes area, and so its objectives were very close to those of Rusland Horizons.
As there was no follow-on funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Trust had to find alternative sources of funding for all activities. This funding came from membership fees, donations, grants, and sponsorship.
The objectives of the Trust were:
- To promote, enhance, improve, protect and conserve the physical and natural environment and maintain its natural beauty for the public benefit within a broad area of the Lake District centred on the Rusland valley and fells.
- To advance education and interest in the landscape and natural environment and in particular in the skills and knowledge associated with the conservation and improvement of the physical, natural and social environment of the area.
Almost as soon as the Trust was established, the Covid pandemic hit in 2020 and many planned projects had to be put on hold. However the Trust continued to work with the Rusland community through its supportive ‘
Living History’ project for people to share their experiences of ‘lock-down’, and the Wild About Rusland Facebook page for people to share wildlife notes and expertise. A number of other important projects were initiated under the Trust, including working with MIND in Furness ('
Full Cycle’ project) and
Rusland Temperate Rainforest Project. The Full Cycle project is now supported by the John Strutt Conservation Foundation, a local valley-based charity. The Rainforest project has been transferred to Cumbria Wildlife Trust - see below.
Despite the best endeavours of those involved, it was clear, with the passing of time, that RHTL didn’t have the funding or resources to make the major impact it sought to make in the local landscape and community. There seemed to be only two options, one was to seek a like-minded, more substantial partner; the other was to fold the charity. In October 2024, Members unanimously chose the former option, which led to the transition, in early 2025, to being the
Rusland Local Support Group of the Cumbria Wildlife Trust (CWT), also a charity with shared aims and objections. The Trust’s residual funds were transferred over to the CWT to be dedicated to work in the Rusland Valley.
With thanks to the following Trustees who continued the work of the partnership scheme and passed their own legacy to the Cumbria Wildlife Trust Rusland Local Support Group:
Colin Barr, Marion Brown, Sharon Callaghan, Rick Emslie, Gill Faulding, Andrew Goldsmith, Jenny Holden-Wilde, Graham Jarvis, Edward Mills, Helen Rawlinson, Lynva Russell, Neil Venables, David Weild, Simon Wright.