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DALES VOLUNTEERS
FROM THE YORKSHIRE
DALES NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY NEWSDESK
DALES VOLUNTEERS ARE
RECORD BREAKERS
Grassington, May
16, 2006
Dales
Volunteers have broken all previous records for the amount of time they
have donated to helping to make the Yorkshire Dales National Park run
smoothly.
In
the last 12 months, more than 200 of them have clocked up a record 4,813
volunteer working days. And that figure – way beyond the record 3,704
working days the year before – is just the days they have recorded.
Rae
Lonsdale, Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority’s Volunteers
Coordinator, said: “It’s a magnificent achievement from a band of
really dedicated people who give their time free of charge.
“The
Dales Volunteers play an integral and a vital part in the life of the
National Park. Without them we would be unable to run quite a few
different projects like surveys of footpaths and bridleways, monitoring
archaeological sites and the events programme of guided walks for
visitors.
“The
Dales Volunteers help full-time staff to conserve and enhance the
natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the National Park.”
At
present there are about 250 regular Dales Volunteers, some of whom work
in the Richmond-based Ragged Robin Conservation Group. In addition, a
number of occasional groups and individuals support the YDNPA staff
during the year.
The
type of work they do includes not only the traditional activities like
practical work on public paths, nature conservation, leading guided
walks and helping walkers on open access land, but also research for
publications, taking photographs, caring for artefacts at the Dales
Countryside Museum and, new this year, developing trails for enthusiasts
of geocaching – the fast-growing craze in which people go on treasure
hunts using hi-tech Global Positioning System equipment.
Yorkshire
Dales National Park Authority acting chairman Jerry Pearlman said:
“The work the Dales Volunteers do is unbelievable. They are out in all
weathers helping the full-time staff and, because they come from all
walks of life, they provide a huge pool of skills, experience and
knowledge.
“I
really believe that the National Park would be a much poorer place
without them. They do a superb job and we are very grateful to them.”
Because
the existing Dales Volunteers are staying longer than they used to,
there are only a few vacancies for people who would like to join in and
enjoy the Dales in a new way.
In
the northern Dales there are opportunities at the Dales Countryside
Museum and, in the southern Dales, a mid-week practical conservation
task group is being set up.
More
information can be obtained on the ‘Looking after’ page of the
Authority website at www.yorkshiredales.org.uk,
by emailing volunteers@yorkshiredales.org.uk
or by contacting Rae Lonsdale 01756 751630.
//ends//
For
more information please call the Yorkshire Dales National Park
Authority's Media Office on 01756 751616. Alternatively, please email media@yorkshiredales.org.uk
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