Joint Volunteering Days - National Trust and Fix the Fells.

You may have heard of the Fix the Fells Partnership but maybe not? The lead in the FtFells partnership from January 2012 is the National Trust. National Trust volunteers from the North Lakes property have been involved in joint work parties with FtFells to the benefit of the countryside we all love and strive to protect.

A weblink to the FtFells is attached, please take a moment to have a look at it.

www.fixthefells.co.uk

Fix the Fells and National Trust volunteers have a lot in common, indeed some of the volunteers for Fix the Fells are also volunteers for the National Trust.

FtFells volunteers carry out most of their scheduled maintenance work on upland footpaths unsupervised but regularly go on work parties led by the National Trust upland footpath teams.

In 2011 FtFells volunteers in National Trust terms gifted 1165 days of work to the partnership.

What did we get up to with each other?

Hedgelaying on the Dunthwaite Estate in November.

Ian P a FtFells volunteer working with David who is a volunteer for both.

NT Ranger Joe watches over FtFellers Ian P and Martin.

Christine H prepares the brash for the fire.

In December our next joint venture were much needed drain repairs on the Watendlath to Rosthwaite path in Borrowdale. NT rangers Joe and Dan supervised the works.

One of the problems - a bit broken? FtFells volunteers Ian F, Jane and Peter consider what could be done.

The solution - under the expert guidance of NT Ranger Joe the old drain is dug out and replaced by a larger modern pipe, the water bar is also rebuilt.

New pipe ready to go in - there is always time for a cuppa. A mixture of volunteers from FtFells and NT in shot. Christine H, Ian F FtFells with NT volunteers Phil and Rod plus NT ranger Dan.

During the course of the day, three pipe drains, two water bars were rebuilt with several other drains of varying kinds receiving some TLC.

None of the above could have been achieved in just one day without the joint working and cooperation of the NT and FtFells volunteers led by NT rangers Dan and Joe. A good day was had by all.

Update Since the 10th September 2011

A taste of what the Buttermere countryside volunteers have been up to.

NT Volunteers Phil, Jim and Robin with NT Ranger Joe digging in foundation stones for a dry stone wall in the shadow of Grasmoor.

Well it has been a long while since the last Buttermere Countryside Volunteer post. Just a little catch up for you as to what they have been up to. It will come as no surprise to learn they have been dry stone walling, hedgelaying, drain clearing, digging in stone edges at Wordsworth House, brashing and fencing repairs. It has kept us quite busy. A big thank you goes to the National Trust Rangers Joe, Dan, Jack and Andy we have carried out work for.

A particular mention must go to the Fix the Fells volunteers with whom we had joint work parties just before Christmas at Dunthwaite hedgelaying and Watendlath replacing some broken and worn out pipe drains and water bars on the very poplular path between Rosthwaite and Watendlath. More of those in a further entry at some time.





Phil and Jim hedgelaying on the Dunthwaite Estate.

What do you do when you get safety wellies for Christmas - Yes, Big Puddle in Buttermere, have a paddle. NT volunteer Christine does the work whilst Phil and Jim keep watch safely behind the wall!!

Christine practises the "Buttermere Puddle Dance"

Which works!

NT Ranger Joe with David, Jim and Theo at Wordsworth House.

Its not all work - there is always time for tea. Phil, David, NT Ranger Dan and Geoff take a break at WWH.

If you are going to have a break, what better place could you find?