More opportunities for volunteers

NEW volunteers are needed to help keep the northern part of the Yorkshire Dales in tip top condition - and to help others enjoy the area.

A recruitment drive has been launched by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA) to find people in the Leyburn, Richmond, Darlington, Northallerton, Kirkby Lonsdale, Kendal, Sedbergh and Kirkby Stephen areas who would like to join the organisation's Dales Volunteers.

There are currently about 240 of them from all walks of life who, between them, give more than 4,000 days each year to help look after the National Park and to help visitors to understand and enjoy the special qualities of the area.

The work they carry out varies from conducting vitally-important surveys of buildings, public paths or wildlife to organising and leading guided walks for education groups and members of the public.

Rae Lonsdale, the YDNPA's Volunteers Co-ordinator, said that the new recruitment drive was aimed at people living close to the northern areas of the National Park in order to help reduce the volunteers' carbon footprint in the Dales.

"Traditionally, the majority of our Dales Volunteers have come from West Yorkshire, with very few living in or near to the northern Dales," he said.

"While we have no difficulty in recruiting for our teams in the south, offers of help are scarcer in the north. This means that our 'southerners' have to drive up to the north when they are needed - meaning more car journeys through the National Park and more carbon emissions.

"In an effort to reduce the impact on the environment, we are trying to find people who live in or near the north of the National Park because they will have shorter distances to travel - and therefore a smaller carbon footprint."

The new recruitment drive comes after 160 Dales Volunteers gathered for their autumn meeting and watched Authority Chairman Carl Lis present long-service awards to nine of them and say a big thank you to one team co-ordinator who is retiring. Between them they have volunteered for about 150 years.

"We value all our volunteers - they're a great bunch of people who are really enthusiastic about the Dales and who want to share their love of the area with others," Rae said.

Anyone who would like more information about the Dales Volunteers can contact Rae on 01756 751630 or by email on volunteers@yorkshiredales.org.uk or through the volunteering page on the National Park Authority's website at www.yorkshiredales.org.uk.

• Photo shows presentations to long-serving Dales Volunteers: Back, left to right standing - Howard Blackie (from Crosshills) NW team co-ordinator retiring after eight years; John Turner (Hawes) 10 years; Simon Backhouse (Cookridge, Leeds) 10 years; Graham Hudson (Rothwell, Leeds) 22 years; Dave Freer (Settle) 10 years; John Kirk (Dacre Banks, Harrogate) 30 years; Authority Chairman Cllr Carl Lis. Front, standing - Maureen Learmonth (Dent) 10 years; Maggie Wilcock (Shaw Mills, Harrogate) 10 years; Kneeling - Barbara Throup (Bradford) 10 years; Chris Flanders (Ben Rhydding, Ilkley) 30 years.