Oaks and frogs to new homes. Children and new 'friends'.

One of our developing projects is an ‘adopt an oak tree’ scheme.  Tree seedlings have been grown from local Keskadale acorns to be planted in the Falcon Crag area.  Over the weekend I went with friends and their children who had agreed to be photographed to launch the scheme.  As soon as the details are finalised, I’ll let you know how you can adopt your own oak.

Reiver supervises planting oak seedlings

Monday began with a slightly unusual task.  A trust-owned house in Grange is being renovated and a pond in the grounds needed to be drained.  Our regular Monday volunteers got to work doing that and found a resident population of frogs that had to be rescued and relocated.  They were carefully transferred to their new home in a pond nearby.

How many frogs?

Of all our projects, one of the most enjoyable is sharing our knowledge and love of the Lakes with as many people as possible.  That often includes working with school groups.  This week Jessie and I led a guided walk for a group who were staying at the YHA in Borrowdale.  We walked from the hostel to Stonethwaite where a local farmer gave some of her time to talk about local farming practice.  

Mutual curiosity!

Popular ponies.

One aspect of our landscape that is not immediately obvious is its industrial legacy.  There are many old mineshafts scattered around the fells that could be dangerous to the unwary.  This week I spent some time visiting these with a group of volunteers who will monitor the sites to make sure that safety fences and warning signs are in good order - an interesting outing but the weather was particularly inclement!

I ended the week at Derwentwater with Naomi (our foreshore development officer) and more of our volunteers.  This is a group who will become ‘welcomers’ to visitors to the stretch of the lake shore along to Friar’s Crag.  They will be there to talk to visitors about the area; to answer queries and to generally make visits more enjoyable. 

You will have realised that there are many different opportunities to volunteer for the Trust.  Check the following link if you are interested.

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-trust/w-volunteering.htm