If you love being outdoors and working with people, then volunteering as a Ranger could be a great way to spend your Sundays.
We spoke to Mick Casey from the Lake District National Park, about the different roles available and what you can expect to be doing.
“Many volunteers call it ‘giving something back’ “ says Mick. “They give their time, skills and energy looking after this unique place and helping visitors enjoy its special qualities. By getting involved you’ll meet new people, learn new skills and discover different parts of the National Park.”
So who volunteers?
“We welcome anyone with a love of the Lake District who wants to help look after the National Park. You need to be at least 18 years old, have the commitment and enthusiasm to work with us and have an interest in the National Park.”
What you can do?
“We have lots of opportunities for you to help us and ‘put something back’ such as:
• Help the Rangers on work parties to repair walls or clear vegetation, surveying rights of way, footpath maintenance and doing patrols.
• Leading walks and events out and about in the National Park.
• Support the Environment and Heritage team surveying wildlife and monitoring archaeological sites.
• Carry out visitor surveys and marshal events for the Countryside team
• Look after the gardens at the Lake District Visitor Centre with the gardeners.
• Work with our partners on projects such as Fix the Fells.
However, we don’t recruit for these volunteering roles all the time, so please check the get involved page to see what help we are currently looking for”.
Get in the team spirit
“The Lake District Volunteers Service works with National Park Authority staff to involve volunteers in their work. We are supported by a Volunteers Forum and publish a newsletter and an online extranet to keep people in touch with what we do.
Mentors support new volunteers and we regularly meet up around the National Park as well as holding an annual Volunteers Day to celebrate our achievements. There is also a training programme to help people get the most of out of their volunteering.”
Of course there are 15 National Parks across Britain, all of whom need volunteers, so contact your nearest one to find out what’s on offer.
Have experience of volunteering? Tell us what you’ve most enjoyed about it in our comments section.
photo credit: TrailVoice
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