The Nest project

28 August 2026

Members of the local community enjoyed a day at Penrith library in February 2026 with activities to connect people with nature through creativity and to learn about the Eden river catchment.

Approximately a hundred people attended, getting the opportunity to try nature-themed crafts – willow weaving with workshop leader Phil Bradley, making nests using playdough – as well as sharing information and ideas about regenerative gardening with Elizabeth Woodcock and Emma Hughes from Cumbria Connect.

The event is part of the ongoing ‘Nest Project’, aimed at spreading the word about nature recovery at nearby sites around Penrith and Milburn through a series of free, family-friendly drop-in activity sessions.

A follow-up event in April saw Phil Bradley and 16 people who had attended the first event return to Penrith library to weave some bigger sculptures. The goal was to create larger sculptures that could be filled with nesting materials, ready to be placed out at Cold Springs Nature Reserve in Penrith and at Elizabeth Woodcock’s land near Milburn. Over the course of the sessions, people worked incredibly hard to produce some fantastic work, whilst also discussing all things nature. It was great fun and thoroughly enjoyed by all, with plenty of people walking away with more willow to use in their own weaves.

The events were kindly hosted by Penrith library and promoted in association with ‘My Community Penrith’. Events have been organised and delivered by the North Pennines National Landscape team as part of the Access to Eden: breaking barriers, building bridges – a partnership project led by Eden Rivers Trust with a grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund – which aims to remove barriers to accessing the natural heritage of East Cumbria.