With Covid-19 causing us all to rethink new, flexible ways of working, conservation charity Friends of the Lake District has had to come up with a new way of running their hugely popular, mass-volunteering Fell Care Day this year.

The ‘Alternative Fell Care Day’ which takes place on Thursday 5^th November will still offer a wide range of conservation and learning activities, but instead of bringing more than 100 volunteers together in a single location, the tasks will be carried out in small groups, spread right across the Lake District and Cumbria.

Ruth Kirk, Landscape Engagement Officer said, “A ‘normal’ Fell Care Day would see well over 100 people squeeze into a village hall for tea and coffee, before going out to tackle a day of conservation tasks, then returning tired, muddy but full of a sense of satisfaction to share cake, more tea and tales of a day well spent. We knew that was not going to be possible in these Covid-blighted times. But, never daunted here at Friends of the Lake District, we have found a way to have our Fell Care Day, albeit in an alternative way to usual.

“So while activities won’t be centred on one specific location this year, we will be working in lots of different, beautiful places, right across the Lake District and Cumbria.  Sadly we won’t be able to have a ‘hub’ for the day where everyone can meet before and after; we won’t be able to offer car sharing between members of different households and we won’t be able to share communal cake in a village hall.

“But we will still be running a whole host of great conservation and learning activities; we will be making a difference to looking after, protecting and learning about these incredibly special landscapes; we will be creating a ‘social media takeover’ with live video and photos of the day; we’ll be taking all necessary steps to ensure participation in all activities is Covid-secure and we WILL be finding a way to provide cake at each activity!”

Activities include tree planting at High Borrowdale between Kendal and Shap, a Geology walk near Derwentwater, woodland management at Eskdale, a litter pick at Ullswater including a trip on the Ullswater Steamers, path creation work at Lorton, bushcraft and campfire cooking at Staveley and more.

Activities must be booked on a first come, first served basis. For more information and to book: https://www.friendsofthelakedistrict.org.uk/Event/fell-care-day-2020-the-alternative

Fell Care Days 2020 are sponsored by EOCA European Outdoor Conservation Association and Smartwool.