[A] project in the Lake District National Park has been shortlisted for the annual Park Protector Award, which is run by Campaign for National Parks.
Fell Care Days, a mass participation project, gives volunteers the opportunity to give back to the amazing landscape of the National Park is one of five projects shortlisted from 26 nominations for the prestigious award.
The annual Park Protector Award supports and celebrates exceptional projects that restore, conserve and enhance the National Parks in England and Wales.
Fell Care Day’s volunteers undertake crucial work to protect and enhance the Lake District environment, including protecting dry stone walls and erecting bat boxes.
Ruth Kirk, project officer at Friends of the Lake District, said: “The fact that Friends of the Lake District’s Fell Care Days project has been shortlisted for the Park Protector Awards is testament to the commitment, hard work and enthusiasm of the thousands of wonderful volunteers. They have given their time since 2011 to undertake a huge range of practical conservation tasks which have made a tangible difference to protecting and enhancing the Lake District landscape. Winning this award would be recognition of the real, positive and lasting impact their efforts have achieved.”
A project to protect native crayfish in Exmoor National Park, a family focussed volunteer project in the North York Moors, a community science project in the Peak District National Park and an app to encourage respect for the marine environment in Pembrokeshire Coast National Park make up the rest of the shortlist.
The winning project will be announced at a parliamentary reception in October and will receive a £2,000 boost to their work.
The Award is supported by Ramblers Holidays Charitable Trust. Joseph Colls of the Trust said: “Once again the Park Protector Award scheme has delivered an impressive set of projects, combining personal motivation and passion with real concern for improving the National Parks, educating the public and fostering enthusiasm.”