[T]he Wainwright Society is delighted to announce that sales of the Society’s 2018 Calendar raised a total of £9,100. This money together with donations from the Society’s Challenge brings the total raised for the Society’s beneficiary, Fix the Fells to £10,600! The money was presented at the Society’s Annual General Meeting on Saturday 17th March.
The money will be used during 2018 to repair Long Stile, the final ascent on to the summit of High Street in the Far Eastern Fells, between Ullswater and Haweswater. Alfred Wainwright, who wrote seven Pictorial Guides to the Lake District fells, considered this ascent from Mardale to be the finest way to the summit.
Speaking on behalf of the charity, Fix the Fells Programme Manager, Joanne Backshall said: “The Wainwright Society has raised a fantastic amount for Fix the Fells and we can’t thank everyone enough for all their hard work and contributions.
“The money will be spent on repairs to the path on the Long Stile ridge, where it steepens towards the summit plateau of High Street, because this has eroded into a loose, unpleasant gully.
“A helicopter lift is required to bring in stone to stabilise the gully and discourage use of the vegetated sides. The site is particularly remote and will require a long journey and walk to site for the Rangers each day.
“The NT North Lakes Upland Rangers will first find and bag the stone to be flown to site, and then work for an anticipated 130 days on the repairs to this path. We hope all those enjoying this lovely part of the Lakes will appreciate the more resilient route created.”
The Society will be producing a 2019 Calendar, which will go on sale later this year. The profits from sales of the 2019 Calendar will be donated to the Great North Air Ambulance Service, the Society’s main beneficiary for 2018.