Volunteering with Friends of the Lake District
Volunteering makes a real difference for Friends of the Lake District and some of our work is only possible because of the help we receive from our volunteers. In 2007 our volunteers carried out over 760 hours of work which achieved the restoration of dry stone walls, the maintenance of 100s of trees, a successful Cumbria Farm Events programme, spreading the word at country shows and keeping on top of paperwork in the office.
Volunteers bring a whole range of different skills and interests to our work and you do not have to be a landscape expert to help; there are many different ways in which you can contribute. Neither do volunteers have to be a Member, but we encourage volunteers to join so that their subscription can further contribute to our work.
Volunteering enables Members and others to:
- Contribute to the work of Friends of the Lake District in a practical way
- Learn about Friends of the Lake District properties and how they are managed
- Meet other Members and Friends of the Lake District staff
- Practice some of the skills of conservation management
- Experience the wonderful landscapes of Cumbria
2008 Conservation Days
Our conservation work parties provide an opportunity for individuals to volunteer on practical conservation tasks, helping to protect and enhance the landscape. Most conservation days are on our land across the county.
Our 2008 conservation days are as follows:
Fri 25 January - Little Asby Common, Kirkby Stephen
Mon 11 February - Little Asby Common, Kirkby Stephen
Sat 23 February - Hedge Planting with Tebay Parish Group
Sun 24 February - The Helm, Tree Planting
Weds 5 March - Little Asby Common, Kirkby Stephen
Wed 12 March - Hows Wood, Eskdale (joint tasks with the LDNPA Volunteers)
Fri 14 March - Mike's Wood, Staveley
Mon 7 April - Little Asby Common, Kirkby Stephen
Mon 21 April - High Borrowdale
Sat 10 May - The Helm, thistle and bracken control
Mon 12 May - Little Asby Common, Kirkby Stephen
Fri 30 May - High Borrowdale
Fri 27 June - Little Asby Common, Kirkby Stephen
Fri 25 July - Little Asby Common, Kirkby Stephen
Mon 4 August - Little Asby Common, Kirkby Stephen
Weds 20 Aug - The Helm, bracken control and walling
Mon 1 September - Little Asby Common, Kirkby Stephen
Mon 29 September - High Borrowdale
Weds 8 October - The Helm, walling
Wed 15 October - Hows Wood, Eskdale (joint tasks with the LDNPA Volunteers)
Fri 24 October - Little Asby Common, Kirkby Stephen
Thurs 20 November - Mikes Wood, Staveley (joint tasks with the LDNPA Volunteers)
Sat 22 November - The Helm, walling
Volunteers of all skills levels are welcome to come along. Please bring warm clothes / waterproofs and a packed lunch. Steel toe capped boots must be worn for all dry stone walling days. If you have any of the following equipment that we may need, it would be good if you could bring it: gloves, walling hammers, walling string, mattocks, spades.
Why not "adopt a property"? We would welcome volunteers who would be prepared to go and walk our properties on a regular basis and report back any problems such as broken gates, wall gaps, etc
Himalayan Balsam Removal Volunteer Day
South Cumbria Rivers Trust are looking for help to remove Himalayan balsam from the banks of the river Kent. The plant is invasive and has been identified by UK Plant Life as one of the top 20 most invasive species threatening our native flora. The work involves pulling up the plant whilst being careful to avoid treading on smaller plants.
Fri 23rd May Dockray Foot Bridge off Burneside Road Kendal
Fri 20th June Burneside Institute
Fri 18th July Dockray Foot Bridge off Burneside Road Kendal
Fri 15th Aug Burneside Institute
To register your interest in attending or for more information please contact Janet Antrobus who is organising the work parties, 01539 727175.
Little Asby
We will be walling. There is limited parking on the Common, so we would like all those from the Kendal and surrounding area to meet at the FLD Office at Murley Moss at 9.00am, from where we will share transport. For those in the east or north, we will meet on site at 9.45am, Jan-March meet at the cattlegrid at the end of common, above the village : GR 693097, April onwards meet junction of the two roads on the common near the signpost : GR 686092 both GRs from os explorer OL19 map.
Mikes Wood
Dry stone walling and tree protection. Meet at Murley Moss 9am or Wilf's Cafe car park 9.30am GR 472 983
Hows Wood
Woodland management - tree thinning. Meet at Murley Moss 8.30am or Dalegarth Railway Station 10.30am GR 173 007
High Borrowdale
A variety of tasks over the year, including walling and tree maintenance. Meet at the office at 9am or meet at A6 layby above Huck's Bridge (GR 553030) at 9.30am.
The Helm
A variety of tasks over the year, as we get to know our newest property. As there is limited parking at Helm, please meet at Murley Moss at 9.30am. If you need to take your own vehicle, please park on the layby behind the Station Inn.
Please ensure you contact Cassie at the office if you plan to attend so that we can add your name to our attendance list. This will enable us to contact you should meeting times or locations change.
We supply skilled supervision and any tools necessary. The events are mostly hands-on conservation work, including a varied range of tasks usually undertaken in small groups. All involve working in the countryside and sometimes on rough ground. Parking is sometimes limited on site which is why we ask people to share transport from the office in Kendal. Volunteers under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Other Volunteer Opportunities in 2008
If working on conservation tasks is not for you, our other volunteer opportunities range from administration work in the comfort of the office to manning our stand at various country shows:
Packing Information and New Member Packs
We are looking for help to pack up information packs and new Member packs for us to give out at the local shows we are attending this summer and the events we will be attending later in the year. The packs are really useful to us in promoting FLD and gaining new Members.
Packing Merchandise
In around April each year our merchandise is delivered and we ask volunteers to come and help us pack cards and envelopes into cellophane envelopes ready to sell to our Members and at the shows and events we attend.
Leaflet Distributors
We are keen to get our Membership leaflet out into the local community in the hope of recruiting more Members. If you think you could spare a few hours to distribute leaflets to a few establishments in your area please let us know. Establishments can vary from a Guest House, Hotel, Restaurant, Visitor Attraction, Library, Shop and so on. Leaflet distribution even on a small scale will help us. Many visitors and locals alike are unaware of what FLD actually does and the range of projects we support.
Attending Shows
Each year we look for volunteers who are keen to spread the word about FLD and help man our stand at the various country shows we attend, the role involves talking to the general public about the work of FLD handing out information to those interested and encouraging them to become a Member.
Flora of the Fells Festival
We are looking for volunteers to help Ruth (our Flora of the Fells Festival Officer) throughout the festival in various different roles. For example you could, Lead a walk, Represent FLD at an event, Take event bookings in the office or Suggest and help plan events in specialist areas.
Cumbria Farm Events
We are looking for volunteers to represent FLD at farm event in various locations across Cumbria. It will involve carrying out a short briefing, taking payment and accompanying members of the public on the walk.
Events
We look for help at various events such as our annual Kirby Lecture, help needed includes making tea and coffee, selling merchandise, asking people to sign in etc. We will also be looking for volunteers to help register people attending our Morecambe bay crossing in June or July.
Surveying Overhead Electricity Lines
Volunteers from both FLD and the Lake District National Park Authority have been surveying overhead electricity lines across the Park. Training is provided and the work involves assessing lines in a defined area using a survey form developed jointly by FLD and United Utilities. The work is completed in phases, there are lots more lines to be surveyed so if you are interested please get in touch.
Walling Competition 10th May
We are looking for a few volunteers to help us at our annual walling competition. It will involve helping set up the stand, stewarding cars and manning the stand during the day. You will get to watch the competition and lunch is provided. Directions if you would like to attend are Go to the NT car park at Elterwater (next to river Brathay). Walk along the Cumbria Way heading back to Ambleside and the wall is on your left after 150 yards - GR: 330 047. If you can help out please let Cassie know.
If you would like to find out more about these activities or take part, please contact Cassie Nelson our Membership and Volunteer Administrator in the office, call 01539 720788 or email cassie-nelson@fld.org.uk.
