Conservation charity Friends of the Lake District has come up with a new way of running its popular fell care volunteering day this year in light of the coronavirus pandemic.
The alternative fell care day on Thursday, 5th November, will still offer a wide range of conservation and learning activities, but instead of bringing more than 100 volunteers together in a single location, the tasks will be carried out in small groups, spread right across the Lake District and Cumbria.
Landscape engagement officer Ruth Kirk said: “A ‘normal’ fell care day would see well over 100 people squeeze into a village hall for tea and coffee, before going out to tackle a day of conservation tasks, then returning tired, muddy but full of a sense of satisfaction to share cake, more tea and tales of a day well spent.
“We knew that was not going to be possible in these COVID-blighted times.
“Sadly, we won’t be able to have a ‘hub’ for the day where everyone can meet before and after; we won’t be able to offer car sharing between members of different households and we won’t be able to share communal cake in a village hall.
“However, we will still be running a whole host of great conservation and learning activities; we will be making a difference to looking after, protecting and learning about these incredibly special landscapes; we will be creating a ‘social media takeover’ with live video and photos of the day; we’ll be taking all necessary steps to ensure participation in all activities is COVID-secure; and we will be finding a way to provide cake at each activity.”
Activities will include tree planting at High Borrowdale, between Kendal and Shap; a geology walk near Derwentwater; woodland management at Eskdale; a litter pick at Ullswater, including a trip on one of the the Ullswater steamers; path creation work at Lorton; and bushcraft and campfire cooking at Staveley.
Book at www.friendsofthelakedistrict.org.uk/Event/fell-care-day-2020-the-alternative
