LAKE DISTRICT TARN RENAMED IN HONOUR OF LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT

A Lake District tarn has been renamed in honour of the late Cumbrian wildlife expert, John Cubby MBE, who was the Head Wildlife Ranger at the Forestry Commission’s Grizedale Forest Park, near Ambleside, for over 30 years.

John James Cubby, who was originally from Wigton in West Cumbria, joined the Forestry Commission at Grizedale in the late 1960s, where he dedicated his life to local wildlife, including managing Grizedale’s important red deer herd. In 2003, he was awarded an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours for his services to wildlife and conservation.

John tragically passed away last year and the Forestry Commission, his family and friends wanted to mark his lifetime achievement by creating a lasting memorial to him in the area he loved, so a peaceful tarn at Grizedale was chosen as a fitting venue.

The former Low Fell Tarn, which is located in a quiet corner of Grizedale Forest, will now be known as ‘Cubby’s Tarn’ and the Forestry Commission have made it into a designated wildlife glade to attract wildfowl, deer and other woodland creatures.

A private memorial ceremony was held at Grizedale earlier this month, where 90 of John’s family and friends gathered to celebrate his life and officially rename the tarn. A special memorial plaque was unveiled at the ceremony, which revealed the new name.

Peter Cubby, John’s brother, helped the Forestry Commission to choose a rock from the forest to put the plaque on a find a suitable position to place it.
Amongst the guest speakers at the ceremony was Brian Mahony, Operations Manager for the Forestry Commission in England and former North West District Manager, as well as the current Head Wildlife Ranger at Grizedale, Mike Thornley. Mike said:

“John was a well loved and respected member of the Grizedale team for many years and dedicated his life to wildlife, so what better way to celebrate his achievements than to rename a special area of the forest in his honour.

“We will continue to look after the new wildlife glade as a permanent reminder of the huge contribution John made at Grizedale.”

The Forestry Commission is committed to increasing the biodiversity of Britain’s forests. All but one of Grizedale’s 25 tarns and pools were man-made in the 1960s and 70s as part of a scheme to develop the land for wildlife and conservation purposes.

As the former Head Wildlife Ranger, John Cubby helped create the Grizedale tarns over 40 years ago, so he would be reassured to know that his work is being continued by the Forestry Commission’s current wildlife rangers.

Further information about the Forestry Commission’s Grizedale Forest can be found at: www.forestry.gov.uk/northwestengland

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Notes to editors

1. Grizedale Visitor Centre and Forest Park is bordered by Lake Windermere to the east and Coniston Water to the West. The nearest centres are Hawkshead and Ambleside.

2. The Forestry Commission is the largest provider of countryside recreation in Britain with responsibility for over one million hectares (2.4 million acres) of forest, woodlands and open countryside. The North West England Forest District covers the Lake District in Cumbria, the Forest of Bowland in Lancashire, Merseyside, Greater Manchester and Cheshire. The forests today are managed for conservation, wildlife, landscape and recreation as well as providing a valuable source of timber.

MEDIA CONTACTS: Mike Thornley (Wildlife Ranger) on 01229-860373 or call Sue Gardiner on 01229-862002.

e-mail: mike.thornley@forestry.gsi.gov.uk