Our mass volunteering event took place in the Westmorland Dales on Friday 21st October. We organised the event was organised in partnership with the Westmorland Dales Landscape Partnership team based in Tebay.

Staff members from Friends and the Westmorland Dales Landscape Partnership were joined by 44 volunteers and task leaders, carrying out a wide range of tasks, tending to the landscape of the Westmorland Dales:

• 5 metres of dry stone wall rebuilt at Smardale. The dry stone wall is an important boundary wall as well as keeping the reserve stock proof. 
• 170 metres of hedge planted at Gaythorne Hall with volunteers joining Asby Tree Group, Woodland Trust, and Westmorland Dales apprentices.
• 200 metres of grassland ride clippings raked off by volunteers at Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s Smardale Nature Reserve. Maintenance of grassland ride habitat is important for the conservation of the pollinators who use them.
• 100’s of trees checked and cared for with Eden Rivers Trust. The trees were previously planted for Natural Flood Management purposes, helping to make the Westmorland Dales landscape more resilient.
• 200 metres of scrub clearance carried out with John Strutt Conservation Foundation along the old railway line at Hartley. The John Strutt Conservation Foundation is managing this area of land to create a range of habitats and increase biodiversity.
• 242 hours of work completed.
• 80 pieces of cake eaten!

Pictured: Volunteers help Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s Reserve Manager, Andrew Walter with grassland ride maintenance at Smardale Nature Reserve

Kay Andrews, our Landscape Engagement Officer said, 

“Our regular Fell Care Days bring together people of all abilities and ages to have fun whilst carrying out incredibly important conservation work. It was great to take our Fell Care Day to the Westmorland Dales this year in partnership with the brilliant team at the Westmorland Dales Partnership Scheme.

“Partnership working is key to the success of these days, and we are very grateful for the support of everyone involved in the day this year; Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Eden Rivers Trust, Woodland Trust, Asby Tree Group, Gaythorne Hall, John Strutt Conservation Foundation and the Westmorland Dales Scheme team. 

“We’d also like to thank our event sponsors EOCA and North Face Explore Fund, Westmorland Dales Partnership Scheme funder National Lottery Heritage Fund and cake supplier David Willan Quality Fresh Foods.” 

David Evans, Westmorland Dales Partnership Scheme Manager said, 

“What a brilliant, hugely enjoyable day.  A great opportunity to engage Friends of the Lake District volunteers and others in conserving and caring for the wonderful landscape of the Westmorland Dales, and revealing some of its hidden heritage in the process.” 

We run smaller scale volunteer conservation days each week all year round. See www.friendsofthelakedistrict.org.uk/volunteering for more information about volunteering with us. 

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Westmorland Dales Fell Care Day 2022 is kindly sponsored by
The North Face and EOCA, the European Outdoor Conservation Association.