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A CUMBERLAND NATURE RESERVE. 
ALTHOUGH the first General Meeting of the Cumberland Nature 
Reserve Association took place on March 14th, 1913, when a 
Council and Officers were elected, the active existence of the 
Association commenced in February, Ig14. 
The offer by the Corporation of Carlisle to hand to the 
Museum Committee the historic common of Kingmoor to be 
used as a Nature Reserve was the initial step, and a very ample 
basis upon which to found a Nature Reserve Association. It 
was shewn, however, that a Cumberland Nature Reserve 
Association entailed a much wider scope of action, and that 
there were many animals and plants in the county which 
urgently required adequate protection, which were not numbered 
amongst the denizens of Kingmoor Common or Wood, and 
which might possibly never be included within the limits of 
any Nature Reserve or sanctuary established in the county. 
Therefore the objects of the “Cumberland Nature Reserve 
Association ’’ include the establishment and assisting in the 
upkeep of Nature Reserves in the county, as well as a scheme 
for the protection of animals outside any such provisional 
area. ; 
There are three birds nesting in this county which are the 
especial objective of egg collectors, viz.:—the Peregrine 
Falcon, the Common Buzzard and the Raven. These fine 
birds required the careful attention of the Association, and a 
scheme was devized which has proved highly successful. 
These birds’ eyries or nests occupy extremely isolated positions, 
and to engage permanent watchers for the numerous areas in 
which they occur would be impracticable. A member of the 
Committee, Mr. Eric B. Dunlop, undertook to locate nests or 
eyries of these species and report to the Sub-Committee ap- 
pointed to deal with the matter, where possible ; arrangements 
were then made with a resident in the district who undertook 
to look after the nest, prevent molestation and report to the 
Sub-Committee when necessary. If the birds successfully 
reared their young he was paid a certain amount agreed upon. 
During the spring of 1914 we had three Raven’s nests, two 
Buzzard’s eyries and one Peregrine’s eyrie under supervision, 
all of which successfully reared young. The Peregrine and 
two of the Ravens are known to have previously endeavoured 
unsuccessfully for several years to raise their broods. 
To enable the Association to undertake this work, it was 
necessary to acquire funds, and therefore the Council of the 
Association decided to establish a ‘ Watchers’ Fund.’ <A 
circular was printed drawing attention to the Association’s 
work and requesting subscriptions. 
The Association hopes to extend the scope of this phase 
1915 June 1. 
