Thursday, 16 October 2014

Another year of repairing the path on Gowbarrow

Throughout the year we've been working up on the path at Gowbarrow, in Ullswater. This is the second year that we've been working on this site and once again we've been joined by numerous volunteer groups.

Starting to dig off the turf

The Field Studies Council joined us again this year with a school group from Ripponden. The group got stuck right in with cutting turf and resurfacing the path.

The group hard at work

Coming back for a second year also gave the teachers a good opportunity to see how last years work had started to bed-in and blend in more with it's surroundings.

We were also assisted by other members of National Trust staff from around the property.

National Trust staff clear a route through the bracken

This helped give staff who work in different areas of the property a better idea of some of the work that we do, and also gave them the opportunity to try something a bit different to their usual jobs.

Freshly gravelled path

We also held monthly work parties for the Fix the Fells volunteers.

Starting landscaping the path

These monthly work parties have really helped push the project along over the last two years and a special thanks has to go out to the Fix the Fells volunteers.

Newly landscaped path

The Fell Rangers from the North Lakes have also regularly helped us out.

Two of the North Lakes team start on some landscaping

Since the North Lakes team was newly created this year, it gave them a good opportunity to get involved in a different type of project and helped them learn a few different techniques.

Completed landscaping

For the second consecutive year we also held our National Trust working holiday up on Gowbarrow.

Before starting work with the working holiday

Four volunteers from last years holiday returned, along with several new volunteers.

Digging off the path

We continued the section of path that we'd repaired with them last year, and extended it right to the summit.

The resurfaced path

Once again a huge thanks to all the volunteers who have helped us over the last two years, as without this help we couldn't have achieved so much. It's been great meeting you all, and perhaps we'll see some of you again in the not too distant future.

The Working Holiday on Gowbarrow