Another partner that makes up the Lake District Osprey Project is the Forestry Commission. If you decide to visit the project you cannot fail to notice the FC influence from the toilets in the car park to the green vans that help staff and volunteers move from one site to another. The Forestry Commission manage the forests of Whinlatter, Dodd Wood, and Wythop wood where the existing nest site was located. It is thanks to the Forestry Commission that the Ospreys can stay here at all. The Scots Pine that the nests are in is first of all grown by the FC, the tops are then trimmed off and an artificial platform put in place to provide a base for the nest sites. Without the necessary tree skills of FC officers the Ospreys would in fact be homeless. These skills are also seen when it comes to getting visitors into a position where they can observe the birds. The tracks are laid and forest furniture such telescope posts, seats and benches are all put in to assist with the experience of viewing the Ospreys. Behind the scenes the FC manage the more mundane aspects of the project from paying wages to training of the information staff. The Forestry Commission may not to be seen as a major contributor  to conservation in Britain, but when you look at projects like this one throughout the country you will soon realise how mistaken that view is.

To find out more about the Forestry Commission; www.forestry.gov.uk