Wainwright Society members on Winder in the Howgills. Photo: Derek Cockell

A fellwalking effort by aficionados of the late author Alfred Wainwright will bring in more than £20,000 for a Lakeland conservation project.

The £2,000 raised by Wainwright Society members in their annual charity challenge will be boosted by a further £20,000 funding from a landfill tax scheme.

The cash will go to the Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s Uplands for Juniper project.

Society members tackled fells from three of Wainwright’s volumes in their 60-50-40 Challenge. During three weeks this month, they have been climbing to the summits of the fells described in The Eastern Fells, The Northern Fells and all the walks in The Howgill Fells.

A cheque was presented to Susan Garnett, member of Cumbria Wildlife Trust and chair of the Sedbergh Local Group.

Ms Garnett’s uncle Henry Marshall published Wainwright’s first five guidebooks. He was county librarian at Kendal for about 25 years and as a teenager, during her school holidays, she remembers packing up orders of Wainwright’s books with her cousins at her uncle’s house in Kentmere.

Derek Cockell, press and publicity officer for the Wainwright Society, said: “The Lake District has more extensive stands of juniper than anywhere else in England.

“Sadly, a decline in the use and management of juniper in recent years, coupled with reduced seed production of older plants and overgrazing of young saplings has taken its toll on the viability of juniper to continue to flourish in its natural habitat.

“The Uplands for Juniper project aims to survey the 231 identified juniper sites in order to establish the condition and extent of juniper.

Events organiser Caroline Nichol, left, presents the cheque to Susan Garnett. Photo: Derek Cockell

“Following the survey, practical steps will be taken to improve the condition of existing juniper sites, expand juniper woodland sites and create new stands through planting locally sourced saplings.”

The £2,000 raised by donation and sponsorship was handed over on the final day of the challenge.