NEWS & REVIEWS
This page contains events run by Matterdale Community Association and events that involve Matterdale residents but are run by other organisations.
Skill Share -
Needle felting Herdwick Sheep
6.4.25
It all started so well, felting a chunky Herdwick body. The Herdwick wool felted beautifully, we've got this.
The first pricked finger resulting in the first "I shouldn't have come".
Then came the head - a bit fiddlier but we're still on board, just.
The face ... broken needles, groans and guffaws.
Legs... does this sheep really need them?!
But we got there and they all looked fab!
Ullswater Breakfast -
The Wordsworth Way 5.4.25
Gordon and Tim spoke about establishing the Friends of the Ullswater Way's latest venture, The Wordsworth Way.
The 14 mile walk, linking Glenridding and Ambleside, honours the Wordsworths and traces some of Dorothy and William's favourite walking routes.
The guide book, 'The Wordsworth Way' is available from information centres, local book shops and Catstycam (£7.50).
Beetle Drive - 29.3.25
Buckle up, it's beetle drive time.
So of course we are playing beetle, making beetles out of garden wire whilst writing risqué poems/lyrics about the valley.
Thanks Brian. It was as crazy as ever!
Quiz Night at The Royal - 16.3.25
Huge thanks to Gordon and Cecilia for organising the latest quiz and congratulations to 'Hell 'n Back", this month's worthy winners.
Nick somehow managed to lose on the Wheel of Misfortune ... better luck next time.
Outdoor Fitness - 14.2.25
If you've seen the Billie Jean hoop challenges on Tik Tok ... then you won't recognise this :o)
But as Debbie always says - it's all movement.
If you fancy joining us we meet in the beer garden at The Royal, Dockray from 12-1 during term time.
Board Games Afternoon- 13.2.25
A cold, dark February afternoon, in the warm and cosy Royal playing Flamme Rouge, Blokus and Mexican Train with friends. Perfect.
Ullswater Breakfast - 1.2.25
Helen Attewell from
Cumbria Sustainability Network
February’s speaker at Ullswater Breakfast was Helen Attewell from Cumbria Sustainability Network. She presented “Doing Our Bit Towards Net Zero Cumbria’.
She highlighted the challenges we face to become more sustainable and gave direction on the opportunities we can all embrace as both individuals and as a community. For more information please visit the CAfS website -
https://cafs.org.uk/
Or follow on Instagram at -
@cafscumbria
Ullswater Breakfast raised £130 for Helen’s chosen charity CAfS (Cumbria Action for Sustainability).
Burns Supper 24.1.25
As Robert Burns said “Up in the Morning Early, Of a’ the airts the wind can blaw, and O, Wert Thou in the Cauld Blast”.
And in the morning the wind certainly did blow … so much so it blew the power out but we rallied and the wind dropped in time for us to have a great evening. 🏴 💃🏻 🕺🏻 🍽️ 🎶
Huge thanks to Jane and Brian, the speakers, the band, the cooks, the bunting makers, everyone who helped behind the scenes and most especially everyone who supported us and turned out in all weathers. ❤️
Snow- January 2025
Thank you to everyone who sent in their snowy pictures.
The weather created beauty, hardship and the community to pull together. We’ve probably got another 24/48 hours before the thaw sets in so… enjoy it/ endure it for a little longer.
Winter Sparkle at NT Aira Force Illuminations
13th, 14th, 20th & 21st December
4.30-7pm (FREE)
Twinkly lights, a stunning setting, the sound of water … a fantastic festive experience provided by National Trust Aira Force.
And it’s on our doorstep!
And it’s free!! (car park charges apply to non members)
Get your boots on, wrap up warm, take a torch and enjoy. 🥾 🔦 🧣
N.B. The lights react to claps and taps… hours of fun. 👏🏼 💡
13 and 14th December 4:30 - 7pm
20 and 21st December 4.30 - 7pm
Box Fit at Boot Camp 13.12.24
Showing us how it’s done.
A fantastic Box Fit session with Debbie this week at Outdoor Fitness/ Boot Camp and if you would like to give it a try we will be doing it again next Friday, yes on ‘Black Eye Friday’, 20.12.24 at 12 at The Royal. Your first taster session is free.
Preparations for Carols by Candlelight
at Matterdale Church
The window sills are dressed (representing local clubs), the Christmas tree is lit and the mulled wine and mince pies are warming.
Everyone welcome. Carols by Candlelight at Matterdale Church on Sunday 15th December at 6pm led by Rev Cathy Helm, followed by mulled wine and mince pies.
Christmas Wreath Making 12.12.24
Matterdale will have the fanciest doors in the Lakes this Christmas.
A free wreath making session, sharing foliage and ‘skills’ and kindly hosted by The Royal.
Volunteers Required for Oral History Project - Remembered Landscapes
8.11.24
Some of you will know that I have been thinking for some time about an oral history project related to remembered landscapes, which would connect well with the habitat survey work.
We are looking for volunteers who would like to be part of this project. Roles do not necessarily have to include interviewing but could be technical or transcription. Ideally it would be good to get started over the winter with some of our older residents.
I think it could be an exciting project and maybe will be extended to the wider Ullswater valley.
If you are interested please contact me at paddy.palmer@btinternet.com
Halloween at The Royal
1.11.24
In the middle of the week there was a certain reluctance to dressing up for Halloween but come Friday evening everyone came up trumps.
Apologies if we gave any little ones sleepless nights. 🫣
October's MCA Pub Quiz
26.10.24
Huge congratulations to Fifth Event for winning October’s MCA pub quiz. 🏆
Jane organised a fantastic quiz that caused a lot of head scratching and inter team rivalry/banter.
The Wheel of Misfortune was then dragged out and the winning team chose to gamble their prize money. It took Gordon 5 minutes to get to the winnings up to £80 then lose it all… would you believe it?!!!
Harvest Supper and Hop
04.10.24
What an evening, great food, great company and the dancing… well you can see for yourself!!
Huge thanks to Maz and John from Let’s Dance Cumbria who were absolutely amazing and to everyone who supported the event and threw themselves unashamedly into the dancing. 💃🏻🕺🏻
Award for the Curlew Watch group
Congratulations to the curlew group for becoming area finalists in the Curlew Project Group Award.
Whilst curlews are small in number we did have multiple breeding pairs in the valley this year, and we hope they will return next year to increase in number.
A big thank you to everyone who took part, including Chris, residents, local farmers and landowners and the National Trust rangers.
Memories of
Matterdale Summer Day
Forget the cold days and dark evenings and remember one of the few warm, sunny days we had this summer.
📸 Thanks to Mark Williamson Photography @blokeonaphone
Matterdale Hits the Herald
21.9.24
Brian assures us the "potential cheating' comment refers to colleagues from Patterdale... not Matterdale, Matterdale End or Dockray.
If you are from Patterdale please insert Patterdale wherever it says Matterdale!!
Badminton Club is Back!
10.9.24
Oh how we’ve missed it.
Badminton doesn’t run during the summer months as we hope to be out enjoying the summer weather instead!!!
But this Tuesday we were back together and ... for the first half hour played like we had never seen this game before - let alone played it. 🙃
Onwards and upwards. 🏸
If you are interested in joining us please contact vagore16@gmail.com
7th Matterdale Valley Wooddisse Cup - Golf Croquet Championship
6 Sept 24
Congratulations to Mark, the winner of the 7th Matterdale Valley Wooddisse Cup - Golf Croquet Championship.
We were truly blessed with the weather, clear blue skies, the sun shining on freshly cut lawns, the clonk of croquet balls and the sound of laughter. A perfect summer afternoon.
A big thank you to Brian for organising the event and to Penrith and North Lakes Croquet Club for guiding us and having the patience of saints. Also huge thanks to Edwina for hosting us afterwards.
Are You Smarter than an 18 Year Old?
Pub Quiz
1.9.24
Huge thanks to Anna and Rebecca for a great ‘Are You Smarter than an 18 Year Old?’ quiz night. Turns out we’re not ☺️.
Well done to the Dowthwaite Duffers 🏆 ,to all the younger quizzers who were ‘brought’ along for the night and to The Royal for providing the venue and winners prize 🍾.
Matterdale Summer Day 2024
10.08.24
What a beautiful day - sunshine, fun, food, games and music.
A huge thank you to everyone who made the day such a special one and to you all for supporting us - we couldn’t have done it without you.
Wildflower Wednesday - Common spotted-orchid
Common spotted-orchid
Scientific name: Dactylorhiza fuchsii
Height: Up to 60cm
Seen: May to August
This is the most common of UK orchids and the one most often seen.
They grow in a variety of habitats, including woodland, verges, hedgerows and marshes and can be so prolific they create a carpet.
The common spotted-orchid actually gets its name from its leaves, which are green with purple spots. The flowers range from white to pinks and purples and also have darker pink spots and stripes on their three-lobed lips.
Photo: Paddy Palmer
Another great moth trapping session with Peter from Butterfly Conservation, this time at Lucy’s Wood and Crookwath.
We had a great turnout from people and moths alike! Again, we had over 60 species of moth but fewer in total, perhaps due to Lucy’s Wood being isolated from other diverse habitats.
A big thank you to Peter for sharing his skills and knowledge and allowing us to get a glimpse of what is happening outside whilst we’re all asleep. A fascinating world. 💚
Moth Trapping at Crookwath & Lucy's Wood
16.07.24
Peter, from Butterfly Conservation (Cumbria), had been waiting for a calm, mild but cloudy evening for weeks, so he could set his moth traps at Paddy’s and finally … success.
Over 60 different species were recorded and more than 500 moths caught and safely released.
What an amazing experience!
Peter is hoping to repeat this at Lucy’s Wood should we have the right conditions. As you can imagine with the glorious Cumbrian weather, this is easier said than done and we will let you know if this is to go ahead but it will be last minute. If you can make it I would strongly recommend it - it was a huge privilege.
Moth Trapping at Paddy's 16.07.24
Wildflower Wednesday - Ragged Robin
Ragged-robin
Scientific name: Lychnis flos-cuculi
Height: Up to 75cm
Seen: May to August
Ragged-robin is a native British wildflower that loves damp conditions. Sadly the ragged, pink flowers of ragged-robin are an increasingly rare sight as wetland habitats disappear.
It has narrow grass-like leaves and divided, pink flowers that attract pollinators such as butterflies, honeybees and bumblebees.
Keep your eyes peeled for this beauty when out and about in Matterdale - we certainly don’t lack the damp conditions it requires 😉.
Paddy & Jane - Ullswater Breakfast Talk 6.7.24
Paddy and Jane presented "Habitat Surveying in Matterdale' at July's Ullswater Breakfast. •
Inspired by an idea of Professor Lois Mansfield, a group of local volunteers undertook training to classify and map wildlife habitats in Matterdale using the Phase one habitat survey system. The last time this had been done was in the 80's and so with changes in land management over this time it is likely to mean there may be some significant changes in habitat.
Surveying is ongoing and brings about some challenges but the community is learning more about about their landscape and seeing increasing diversity in some areas.
Glencoyne Bay Swim Group 13.05.24
The water temperature is rising 🎉 and is now slightly less Baltic!
If you fancy a swim but would like some company, the Glencoyne Bay Swim Group meet at 8am on Monday mornings, at …
yes, Glencoyne Bay.
Matterdale Treasure Trail 12.05.24
A big thank you to everyone who supported the inaugural Matterdale Treasure Trail.
Clues were solved, ‘treasures’ were photographed, challenges completed and … one unsuspecting local insulted “You must be the elderly educator with the grey face!!!” (Fortunately he took it with good grace.)
Our thanks also go to The Royal Hotel, Dockray who not only donated the winner’s prize but also lots of amazing traybakes to keep the competitors fuelled.
Northern Lights 11.05.24
A solar storm was predicted AND it actually happened AND the skies were clear over Matterdale... what a miracle!
What an amazing sight!
Photos: Joe Ball
Outdoor Fitness 10.05.24
Outdoor Fitness … it was a hot one and let’s just say we needed to add music to the reel to cover up the gasping (and occasional exhausted expletive!)
🎂 🥵 ☀️ 🏃🏻♀️
Thanks @debjackman
If you’d like to join us, we meet in the beer garden at The Royal Hotel, Dockray 12-1pm (term time only). First session is free.
Easter Sunday - Matterdale Church
Easter Sunday morning - the sun shone and the cross was decorated with stunning daffodils and greenery.
