Volunteer site visit to Whitehaven Coast

In March, we asked countryside volunteers how they’d like to get more information from us, and they said “site visits where we can chat informally to staff” (see notes from the March meeting on My Volunteering online area)

So, in June we held our first Site Visit – a guided walk along NT-managed land on the Whitehaven Coast with Chris Gomersall, the ranger for Whitehaven & Ennerdale.

Chris showed us the land cared for by the National Trust, the work we do to improve access and conservation and the challenges posed by this recently-industrial landscape.


Grass Vetchling flowers beside Haig Colliery Museum



Then we drove in convoy to Kinniside Common where our task was to chop up and burn an ash tree which had been felled because it was damaging the archaeology of the Monk’s Bridge – a 600yr old packhorse bridge in a very dramatic location.

A well-earned break

The volunteers had brought their own sausages to put on the BBQ, and a very hot & enjoyable afternoon was had by all, with volunteers from opposite corners of the North Lakes patch able to meet each other for the first time and get to explore a new area.

Chris provided a cracking day out, volunteer Dounia provided luscious lemon & poppy seed cake, volunteer John provided tea & coffee for everyone, and we all agreed it was a good idea and worth repeating.

If you volunteer in the North Lakes, keep your eyes peeled for a follow-up date with Woodlands Ranger Maurice Pankhurst in September.