Fifty-five graduate trainees from Jaguar Land Rover, and staff from Impact International joined Friends of the Lake District on a snowy day in January on the Helm near Oxenholme.

The graduates were on a week's course with leadership development company Impact International and the day on the Helm was a chance for them to do something as a community project as well as be challenged to learn new skills.

The trainees undertook four tasks, with support from volunteers from Friends of the Lake District. They cut two fire breaks through gorse, improving safety and with benefits for nature conservation. In another area, the group cleared branches and brambles to open a new route for local walkers and replaced an old gate so that people can walk through two areas of land owned by Friends of the Lake District. Another group began work on repairing a gap in a dry stone wall.

It was a challenging day for the graduates, not least due to the weather as more snow had fallen overnight and for the gorse cutting team in particular, there was very steep ground to work on. Burning the gorse did provide a chance to warm up though!

Judith Moore from Friends of the Lake District said "It was a very successful day. The Friends have not worked with such a big group before, but Impact's organisation of the day, the enthusiasm of the graduates and the support of the Friends' own volunteers meant a great deal was achieved."

Friends of the Lake District are happy to help run work parties for companies, organisations and community groups, for which we ask for a donation to cover staff time and your support by becoming a member. Contact us on 01539 720788 if you would like to discuss organising a fun and practical outdoor activity day for your team.

Help was also given by Travis Perkins at Sandside who donated timber and some fixings for the gate, and Friends of the Lake District volunteers Phillip and Jennifer Ball who paid for other gate fixings. Philip and Jennifer live locally and are regular walkers on the Helm. They were keen to improve access and so the work done by the graduates clearing vegetation to open up a new route has helped enormously with that.