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).
Autumn / Winter 2024 Update
We’ve delayed work on an accessible trail following a report of Great Crested Newts (GCN) in a field adjacent to the site. Fantastic news of course but this will require the site to be surveyed by an ecologist before any groundwork can take place.
The GCN surveying season runs from April – June so we hope that work on the trail can get underway in Autumn 2025. This allows extra time to plan and design interpretation and resting points around the trail. We can also finalise the optimum route in partnership with Cumberland Council to maximise accessibility of the site and where necessary, to accommodate the needs of our amphibious friends.
Two volunteer events have been held in partnership with Cumberland Council’s Green Spaces team. A drop-in event gave local people the flexibility and confidence to volunteer at the site with 18 adults at both events; a good mix of regular volunteers and new faces working together.
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.
