Theme: Cultural Routeways

Many of our ancestors who lived in the Bassenthwaite catchment used the land more sustainably than we do now. They used traditional skills and products from the fields, woods and mountains without causing undue damage.

By re-visiting the earlier cultures, we want to introduce people to how the landscape can be protected while still providing a livelihood to its inhabitants.

Match funding from Europe has enabled many of these projects to involve young people from European countries. This cultural exchange programme allows participants to compare how we manage our land and celebrate our cultural history, with the way it is done in other European countries.

The 6 projects in this theme are:

Fashion from the Landscape
This project uses fashion as a hook to engage young people in the environment. Young Cumbrians are given the opportunity to join young Europeans on an exchange designed to encourage creativity while working towards sustainability.

These young people will take inspiration from the natural environment and learn traditional skills and crafts to design and create their own clothes and accessories. Students will finish with a fashion event that draws on traditions and narratives from their respective countries.

We hold 4 events each year, so if you have a passion for fashion contact us now and get involved.

Project leader: Grampus Heritage & Training Ltd.

What’s in a Name?
Place names are one thing our ancestors left behind, as well as stories, skills and dialect. This project investigates local place names, then develops events and festivals that celebrate the meaning. The festivals will promote skills, local products, music, drama and art. Join us to investigate and revive our local history.

Project leader: Grampus Heritage & Training Ltd.

Search for the Norse Impact
The Norse (Viking) legacy is seen all over Cumbria; the way they farmed the land, their speech, their games, like ‘Cumberland wrestling’ and their personal names. Experts and communities are joining forces to see how the Vikings lived here for centuries and looked after the land.

Project leader: Grampus Heritage & Training Ltd.

Unlocking Hidden Heritage
Hidden in the undergrowth are the secrets of our social, industrial and environmental past. This project gives you the fantastic opportunity to join our volunteers in completing the fascinating story of how our ancestors lived in, and managed our landscape.

So far this year we have surveyed over 250 hectares of woodland around Derwentwater, and the Caermote Roman fort, to the north of Bassenthwaite Lake. Findings have included cairn fields, shielings (huts used for upland pasture), charcoal platforms, remains of buildings and roads and much more.

So come and join our archaeological surveys or archival research, and you too could contribute in piecing together this important history. All findings are logged in the Historic Environment Record to aid future research.

Dates for our next set of surveys have been set, so check the calendar and get in touch.

Project leader: Grampus Heritage & Training Ltd.

Cultural Exchange
All over Europe, rural areas are under threat and in decline. This project provides opportunities for exchanges between Cumbrians and other European countries to enable the sharing of valuable knowledge and experiences. And to demonstrate practical ways to celebrate our culture and help our local environment.

Project leader: Grampus Heritage & Training Ltd.

Lost in the Woods
Woods have been integral to our communities throughout history. Our Lost in the Woods project gives you the opportunity to join us in exploring, reviving and celebrating how our ancestors lived and worked sustainably in the woodlands.

Over the next 3 years we will be introducing the community to traditional woodlands skills in a number of craft workshops. Our first set of workshops include; willow work, charcoal making, spoon carving, longbow making, bowl turning, woven hazel hurdles, shingle making and much more.

Check out the calendar and contact us to get involved.

Project leader: Grampus Heritage & Training Ltd.

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For progress on our Cultural Routeways projects, checkout the following link:
http://www.grampusheritage.co.uk/