Yorkshire Dales National Park Volunteering
I was really pleased to be accepted as a volunteer following interview and began my duties in earnest with the Walling team, a lovely bunch who made me very welcome and taught me how to build and repair dry stone walls. I don’t know anyone who has never wondered at the sheer miles and miles of beautiful walls stretching for as far as the eye can see. And to be able to maintain these wonderful structures for generations to come gives me such pride and enjoyment. Not that it isn’t hard work; I found muscles that I had forgotten about!
Access patrols throughout Wharfedale provide a good excuse to get out on the Moors, Fells and Dales to enjoy the beauty of the surroundings. An occasional tea shop visit of course, well it would be rude to pass them all by wouldn’t it!?
The occasional challenging walk over the three peaks of Pen-Y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough provides the occasion to enjoy for myself everyone else’s hard work, the lengths-men patrol areas, enjoying the quiet of the countryside: - the waterfalls, the fields of ewes with their new-born lambs, and that extra special visit round the farm having being invited to view a herd of gorgeous Limousin cattle by the farmer who you passed the time of day with.
Outreach activities enjoyed with people from Keighley showing them the wonders of the woods, wild flowers and fruits for free. Canoeing up Semerwater with young people striving to stretch themselves and become Young Champions of the Park. Introducing visitors to where their food comes from at Nethergill farm and enjoying the birds and wild life with a spot of stream dipping to discover hidden water life. Teaching a bit of simple navigational techniques to those wishing to venture further afield into the wilds of our beautiful park, all things that you can enjoy as a Yorkshire Dales National Park volunteer.
