THE story of a Lakeland village’s mining history is being brought to life this weekend with a series of fun events.

A Mining Heritage Day is being held from 11am to 3.30pm on Saturday, July 15, based at the Coniston Boating Centre, on Lake Road.

The free activities have something to offer to all the family and include guided walks at 11.30am and 1.30pm on the theme Coniston A Copper Village.

Copper mining went on for centuries in the hills above the village, at places like the Coppermines Valley, Levers Water and Tilberthwaite.

There are storytelling sessions with Dominic Kelly and copper art activities with artist Karen MacDougall.

There is also an opportunity to handle copper mining artefacts.

German miners came from Keswick to open new workings in the reign of the first Queen Elizabeth and mine speculator Charles Roe tried his luck in the 18 th century.

It was the middle years of the 19 th century century when Coniston’s mines were at their most productive – with ore leaving by boat across Coniston Water and on the new branch railway to Foxfield.

The Saturday event has been organised by the Coniston Copper project which is all about conserving, promoting and enjoying Coniston’s mining heritage.

It is being funded by at £455,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund and will see the repair and conservation of 10 historic copper-mining structures.

You can find out more about the project on the website at www.conistoncopper.co.uk