More than 100 people repair busy Lake District route during Fix the Fells weekend ‘blitz’

During a rainy weekend, more than 100 people helped maintain and repair one of the busiest Lake District paths as part of a Fix the Fells’ ‘blitz’ weekend.

Volunteers joined Fix the Fells Rangers, National Trust staff, corporate volunteers from Amey, and Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA) Young Rangers and employees to maintain and repair paths on the route from Wasdale Head up Scafell Pike.

Among the volunteers were LDNPA Chief Executive Gavin Capstick, and LDNPA Assistant Director of Sustainable Development Hanna Latty.

Gavin Capstick said: “The Lake District’s fells are an iconic feature in its dramatic landscape, and beloved by millions of people. They are one of the National Park’s special qualities, so protecting them amid pressures of increasing severe weather events and the millions of boots that pass over them each year is hugely important.

“Fix the Fells plays a vital role in maintaining the landscape. Their work prevents erosion of natural habitats and helps people enjoy upland walking in the National Park safely, by repairing routes and adding drainage.

“The dedication of the volunteers and rangers as well as the scale of the work party during the annual ‘blitz’ event was incredible. The commitment to get the job done in awful conditions says everything about the volunteers and the Fix the Fells team, which is really inspiring.”

Between Friday 27 and Sunday 29 June the team worked primarily on lower paths due to the adverse weather conditions, along 150m of old machine path.

Liam Prior, Area Ranger in the West Lake District for Fix the Fells, said: “First of all we made the route more easy to walk on by prising awkward, uneven stones out of the path which had caused it to spread from 1.5m wide to in places more than 5m wide.

“This had meant that a lot of vegetation and soil had been trampled away over the years since the path was built in 2012.”

Liam explained they revegetated bare soil to prevent further erosion, added drainage to take water away from the path and roughed up the sides of the path by creating a series of humps and bunds that would redirect people on to the path.

The team also created habitat holes to hold water, making the path more appealing and the sides much harder to walk on.

Liam said: “It was so wet and so busy. There were so many people looking to climb Scafell Pike even when the weather is atrocious, which is a clear reason why our work is necessary on the fragile mountain habitats.”

He explained they hope to plant trees in strategic places to further minimise erosion.

Isabel Berry, Fix the Fells Partnership Manager, said: “It was fantastic to see so many out at Scafell Pike, and an amazing effort by all involved as well as a big improvement to a large section of the route.

“Our volunteers and rangers are a fantastically committed bunch of people who care deeply about protecting our beloved Lake District landscape, while preserving access for those who enjoy climbing to see some of the most beautiful scenery. We’re so grateful to them for joining us and encourage everyone to remember the hard work that goes into looking after the National Park.

Visit their website to learn more about Fix the Fells: https://www.fixthefells.co.uk/who-we-are/