Engine Lonning: A city haven for all
Part of project: Access to Eden: breaking barriers, building bridges
Engine Lonning is a 10.1 hectare semi-natural, council-owned Green Space on the south bank of the River Eden in Carlisle. It is mainly woodland with some grassland glades, but has a rich heritage and story to tell.
The name hints at railways forming part of that story, and indeed it is the site of a former bustling rail yard and includes one end of the now-closed Carlisle Waverley Viaduct that crosses the river.
Before that the site included part of the 10-mile-long Carlisle Ship Canal – now infilled and part of the (wet) woodland. Its heritage dates
back to the Roman era, encompassing the course of Hadrian’s Wall and its associated National Trail. A network of PRoW, permissive paths and informal trails criss-cross the woods.
Planned path improvements and new interpretation for the site will exist beyond the life of the four-year project allowing subsequent generations of local families to get to know and use the site.
Events, capital work and volunteering activities undertaken during the project will focus on engaging long-term local beneficiaries, volunteers and project partners, working with Eden Rivers Trust (on rivers) and with Carlisle Waverley Viaduct Trust (on railway history and conservation).
Spring / Summer 2024 Activities
We’ve held discovery days with a Nature Detectives trail, let visitors travel back in time from railways to Romans where visitors got to handle Roman artifacts and meet a real-life Roman! Our friends from Carlisle Waverley Viaduct have been on-site to share the fascinating stories of the railway yard that was once here. Stomping Ground has held activities and games and we have had teams of volunteers on site to Bash the Balsam.
We attended a HAF holiday event at Raffles in Carlisle, spending the day chatting to residents and visitors about our plans and asking people about the changes they would like to see whilst entertaining younger visitors with some creative activities making stick dogs bashing balsam flowers onto cotton bags to take away.
In pictures…
Engine Lonning location and boundary
Eden Rivers Trust. Engine Lonning Discovery Day in Carlisle: 3 June 2023 STUART WALKER Copyright Stuart Walker Photography 2023
Engine Lonning steps
Interpretation discussion board
Eden Rivers Trust. Engine Lonning Discovery Day in Carlisle: 3 June 2023 STUART WALKER Copyright Stuart Walker Photography 2023
Aerial view of Eden bridge
Engine Lonning canoe litter pick volunteers
Once pulled, the plant should be bashed to kill it. Copyright Stuart Walker Photography
Eden Rivers Trust. Engine Lonning Discovery Day in Carlisle: 3 June 2023 STUART WALKER Copyright Stuart Walker Photography 2023
ERT staff at Raffles HAF summer event
Main entrance to Engine Lonning
Eden Rivers Trust. Engine Lonning Discovery Day in Carlisle: 3 June 2023 STUART WALKER Copyright Stuart Walker Photography 2023
View of Eden bridge from Engine Lonning riverbank
Graffiti on barrier to Eden bridge
Engine Lonning Discovery Day Carlisle 3rd June 2023 ERT staff and young people. Copyright Stuart Walker Photography 2023
Eden Rivers Trust. Engine Lonning Discovery Day in Carlisle: 3 June 2023 STUART WALKER Copyright Stuart Walker Photography 2023
Eden Rivers Trust. Engine Lonning Discovery Day in Carlisle: 3 June 2023 STUART WALKER Copyright Stuart Walker Photography 2023
Thank you
This project is supported by the Access to Eden: breaking barriers, building bridges partnership project led by Eden Rivers Trust with a grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks also to Cumberland Council for their support via the West Carlisle Community Panel and the Ernest Cook Trust.
