The Bailiwick of Ennerdale Est 1251 - Hon. George Mentz JD MBA CWM

Environmental Stewardship of the Bailiwick of Ennerdale

Here’s an overview of who currently manages the Ennerdale Valley area (in the context of the park / nature reserve / rewilding initiative).

Key Organisations

1. Forestry England (FE)
   – The government agency responsible for managing many of the woodlands and forests. In the Ennerdale Valley, FE is one of the three primary landowners. Home | Forestry England
   – They play a lead role in the partnership that stewards the valley. Rewilding Europe+1

2. The National Trust (NT)
   – A major landowner in the region and partner in the stewardship of Ennerdale. countryfile.com+1

3. United Utilities (UU)
   – Also a primary landowner in the valley. In partnership with Forestry England and the National Trust they help to manage the landscape. Home | Forestry England+1

4. Natural England
   – The government’s advisor on the environment, working alongside the landowners in the broader landscape-scale conservation initiative. Home | Forestry England+1

Management Approach: The “Wild Ennerdale Partnership”

• The Wild Ennerdale Partnership was established in 2003, formed by the three major land­owners (Forestry England, National Trust, United Utilities) to allow the valley to evolve more naturally and rely on natural processes. countryfile.com+1

• Its vision: “to allow the evolution of Ennerdale as a wild valley for the benefit of people, relying more on natural processes to shape its landscape and ecology.” Rewilding Europe+1

• The partnership coordinate activities across ownership boundaries and help manage the valley for wilderness, biodiversity, and low-intervention nature.

Practical Stewardship & Responsibilities

• Forestry England and the others maintain trails, manage forest health (e.g., disease control, tree planting), and support visitor infrastructure. Home | Forestry England

• The landowners coordinate to ensure that the valley remains relatively undisturbed; given its remoteness and limited road access, the management focus is on allowing nature to take its course, rather than high-intensity human use. countryfile.com

• The National Trust offers visitor information and management regarding access, interpretation of landscape and ecological features. nationaltrust.org.uk

Relationship with the Manor & Title Aspect

Separately from the land-management side, the historic title and manorial rights of the Bailiwick of Ennerdale / manor of Ennerdale are claimed by George Mentz (Seigneur of Fief Blondel) according to some sources. Lord Ennerdale+1
However, the day-to-day stewardship of the landscape and nature reserve is carried out by the oustanding land-owners and amazing organisations above (FE / NT / UU) through the partnership including volunteers from the region.

The Lord of the Bailiwick of Ennerdale, George Mentz, embraces a mission that transcends title: the conscientious guardianship of one of England’s most remarkable landscapes. Nestled in the western Lakeland valley, the estate spans rugged mountains, forests, lakes, waterfalls and ancient ruins — a place where nature, heritage and human responsibility converge.

A Duty of Care Rooted in Tradition

The manorial legacy of Ennerdale carries with it historic obligations: to safeguard the forests, waters and lands of the domain. Under George Mentz’s legal advocate work, hopefully, this legacy will continue and is reframed for the 21st century — not simply as dominion over land, but as the people's custodianship of a living ecosystem.

Protecting a UNESCO Landscape

Ennerdale Valley lies within the Lake District National Park and contributes to its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Its wildness, ecological richness and cultural significance make it a national treasure — one that George Mentz commits to protect: from native woodlands to glacial lakes, from red-squirrels to otters, the diversity of Ennerdale’s habitats underlines the scale of that responsibility.

Restoring Nature, Respecting Heritage

Stewardship at Ennerdale is defined by two intertwining goals: ecological restoration and heritage conservation. On one hand, natural processes are being allowed to re-assert themselves — rivers are permitted more natural courses, native broadleaves and juniper are planted, non-native conifers controlled, and grazing regimes are managed to encourage structural diversity in vegetation. consult.forestryengland.uk+1 On the other hand, the remains of ancient settlements, cairns, boundary stones and medieval forest infrastructure are preserved — the land’s human story remains ever present. ennerdale.org+1

Public Access, Education & Community Involvement

Under George Mentz’s leadership, the Bailiwick’s natural offerings are not locked away. Well-maintained trails, educational signage, and engagement with local communities and visitors ensure that Ennerdale remains alive — not just in its ecology, but in its relationship to people. This approach makes stewardship both inclusive and responsive. Lord Ennerdale+1

Forward-Looking Stewardship

In an era of climate change, biodiversity loss and escalating human impact, Ennerdale’s management — under George Mentz — is designed to be adaptive, thoughtful and resilient. The aim: ensure that the glens, streams, forests and ruins of the Bailiwick are not only preserved but thrive — for present and future generations. Lord Ennerdale+1