Tracks and Dales

17/01/2026

A fantastic first session last week between The Well Communities, Natural England and Tracks&Dales!
This project has begun to help beneficiaries of The Well make a difference in nature. The Well and Tracks&Dales met the Natural England team at Gait Barrows, a National Nature Reserve in south Cumbria. Everyone got busy coppicing, which helps create habitats for the rare species in the NNR including the declining Duke of Burgundy butterfly. Coppicing is essentially, cutting back small trees to ground level to stimulate growth of plants. As much as we love trees, we also need other flora to shine through!
The second and third photos are a before and after. An incredible effort from an incredible group of people!
Tracks&Dales will continue to support this partnership throughout the year and we can’t wait for the next one next month!

11/01/2026

Yesterday we had the pleasure of heading out to Whitbarrow Scar, with Every Life Matters 🤍💜

A gentle walk, clear views of snow capped Lakeland peaks, fresh air and space to breathe. Getting outside like this can help slow racing thoughts, lift mood, and remind us we’re not alone — sometimes just moving together in nature is enough.

We’re really pleased to be building this partnership with Every Life Matters, supporting people through time outdoors, conversation, and connection 🌿

Step by step. One walk at a time.

04/01/2026

Funding secured!

It gives us immense pleasure to announce that we have received funding from the People's Postcode Lottery!

To know that our project can continue for years to come is incredible and we can’t wait to continue changing peoples lives across Cumbria, all through the great outdoors!

Thank you to the People's Postcode Lottery for this amazing opportunity!

📍 the photos are from a recent wellbeing walk to Kentmere reservoir when it was very wet but very atmospheric!

***deawareness

23/12/2025

Reflection:

Tracks&Dales began with a simple belief: that the outdoors can be a supportive, accessible space for mental wellbeing.

This past year, we’ve walked and climbed with over 200 beneficiaries, and each session has reinforced that support doesn’t need to be complicated. Sometimes it’s just fresh air, steady movement, and being met exactly where you are.

This work is built on trust, and we’re incredibly grateful to everyone who’s shown up and shared part of their journey with us.

If you’re reading this and thinking this could help someone — or maybe yourself — we’d really encourage you to get in touch, follow our work, or pass this on.

— James, Tracks&Dales 🍃

***deawareness

17/12/2025

What an amazing group! It was a pleasure to take out beneficiaries of the The Well Communities Barrow group. We met at High Dam and had a lovely walk, talking about how nature can be beneficial to healing as well as discussing exciting plans for next year!

Our Barrow residents had a great day out to High Dam as part of our Grow Your Own project.

The walk was led by Track and Dales and is the first of hopefully many adventures with them. 🥰

13/12/2025

Mental Health First Aid 🧠
The team at Tracks&Dales recently completed their MHFA with Every Life Matters.
It was fantastic for the team to learn more about how to support those that need it most, and cement knowledge we have already learnt.

***deawareness

07/12/2025

A Path Back to Belonging.

Mental health challenges can make people feel excluded and invisible.
We offer a way back through accessible, welcoming sessions that reconnect people with community and the outdoors. Every session helps someone feel seen, supported, and more confident in who they are. Let’s keep opening doors to recovery.

05/12/2025

A fantastic offer for every Care Experienced Young Person in Cumbria!

Once a month, we head to Keswick Climbing Wall and teach climbing to young adults, that grew up in the care system. We work alongside Cumberland Council and after two sessions, its benefits are already evident.

Confidence has grown, social skills have improved and their mental resilience has soared. It’s fantastic to work with these young people and really make a different to those that need it.

We are continuing to offer this throughout the winter period, and then when the weather improves and daylight hours increase, we will be heading outside into the mountains of The Lakes District!

***deawareness

29/11/2025

💚Every Life Matters 💚

We are very proud to wish one of our team members, Matt Benson good luck in his fundraiser this Saturday! He will be doing a 5.5km loop around Kendal Castle, every hour for 24 hours. This 5.5km loop is to represent the average of 5 people lost each month to su***de in Cumbria.

Well done Matt! 🏃🏻‍♂️

To sponsor: https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.justgiving.com%2Fpage%2Fmatthew-benson-1%3Futm_medium%3DFR%26utm_source%3DCL%26fbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBEwQnc4N0J1ZDdkQ2RUWXdYMnNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR66UNBw2Q9DzVzWzcfVJRqQMz7Hoe8xqoE28zpIfMW6AOWsP0Oos_bFiySYSw_aem_jBktWRbqyoTDSfmFZKvZsQ&h=AT14tdoPL1oVFtUOifQPVxBNV0DPF7rMYCICLMxtb6N4R__Rhhtcm0X-8F-r3jRprQi8Al33hEVmPaGlAwZPRDe1RAVvhqlDhnID5CHH5K6NWZ2_pcWChFdObDyQcmX8uzobJ-UA2anlJY8p&__tn__=R-R&c[0]=AT11tFJ3nNfJ_Rufc1V_FIc5UVA3UlQxh-qU1LUoG22NXnDrnDL-lSNRoenunts2gdkcVgKp5RAbdb_Z_sQi0Gzh0Lq4lRLF02cTUWFyyjaCSMaB2toJeNtlPexInHAmqGvoj_DKTXErY8cU5vRbKMohZoWln1yoCPygygSYqnJvocq6SrZfJxDgalFDorXzxh0eUjRevrCfWMQBAHtwIR7arw

29/11/2025

Exciting times ahead for next year! We’re teaming up Andys Man Club Barrow-in-Furness as well as all AMC groups in a Cumbria, to offer free wellbeing walks throughout 2026.
Starting at North Walney Nature Reserve, and progressively increasing the difficulty and duration, we will be able to overcome everyday challenges through the great outdoors.
However, don’t worry if some of the walks feel overwhelming, on the same dates, we are also offering alternative walks for those that don’t feel ready for the big mountain days such as Scafell Pike and Helvellyn!
This offer is specifically for AMC members/beneficiaries and facilitators.
Please get in touch to register your interest either through messenger or emailing community@tracksanddales.com

Watch this space! ⛰️ ❤️

24/11/2025

Mental Health is Movement.

Movement in nature helps quiet the mind and open the heart. Our participants tell us that walking outdoors, climbing, and mindful activity give them the headspace they’ve been missing, and the self-belief to move forward.
Funders, partners, supporters, you’re helping us change lives one step at a time. 👣



📍 a recent trip to Maderia, Portugal. An early start to catch the sunrise on Pico Ruivo.