VOLUNTEERS are lending a huge helping hand to the job of keeping the Yorkshire Dales National Park in tip top condition.

As well as celebrating the 60th birthday of the creation of the national park, this year also marks the 50th anniversary of volunteering in the park.

And in the past 12 months alone, volunteers have done an amazing 6,129 days of work, of which 4,495 days were carried out by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority’s Dales Volunteers

Volunteers co-ordinator Kate Hilditch said: “Volunteers get involved in everything from path repairs and historic building surveys to leading guided walks and drystone walling.

“Our fantastic Dales Volunteers bring their expertise, enthusiasm and dedication to a huge range of tasks to support the work of the National Park Authority.

“In fact, we couldn’t achieve half of what we do without the hours of time and energy they contribute to helping to look after the national park.”

Dales Volunteer Nick Berry said: “Volunteering with the Yorkshire Dales National Park is fun and rewarding.

“After 15 years or so of being a Dales Volunteer, I still enjoy the activities – everything from patrol duties of popular walking routes and upland landscaping of footpaths to replacing stiles and talking to visitors and residents.

“The range of duties we undertake and our commitment is appreciated by many visitors and residents, as well as by the staff of the authority, whom we support.”

Nick Cotton, member champion for recreation management, said: “The national park covers 680 square miles of beautiful countryside and, as well as being home to many people, it attracts thousands of visitors every year.

"The volunteers in general - and the Dales Volunteers in particular - are absolutely vital if we are to carry on with our main jobs of promoting the understanding and enjoyment this very special place and conserving and enhancing its natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage.”