Wild Ennerdale is not about abandoning the valley but about managing the valley at a lower level of intervention working with the natural processes and special qualities of the valley.

During 2003 and 2004 the partners focused their attention on trying to identify the wild features, special qualities and natural process that make Ennerdale a wild place. In addition the partnership is keen to identify features that prevent natural process happening, detract from the sense of wildness and identify any missing natural processors .

During 2005 and 2006 The partnership developed a management plan for the valley which pulls together our knowledge of the valley, natural processes and detracting features and makes proposals for how to protect and increase the sense of wildness, opportunities for natural process and reduce the detracting features. The Stewardship Plan brings together 3 years of discussion and development into a holistic document which celebrates the history of Ennerdale and outlines how the valley may develop in the future

Since 2007 the partners have been working to implement the Stewardship Plan through a range of projects aimed increasing the opportunities for natural processes, developing features which increase the sense of wildness and reduce features which detract from the special qualities of the valley.