Published at 13:54, Friday, 12 October 2012

VOLUNTEERS put in 1,000 hours of work to build a drystone wall and clear Himalayan balsam in the Ullswater valley.

More than 200 helpers, including pupils visiting the area from the American School in Paris, helped in Sunday’s effort organised by Friends of the Lake District.

Drains were cleared to prevent erosion on paths around the lake and 100 metres of gorse and Himalayan balsam were cleared from Greenside.

A 40-metre footpath was rebuilt at Aira Force and 28 bags of rubbish collected from around the lake shore.

School children from Patterdale and Penruddock built a red squirrel hide from willow and made 30 new bird boxes and 10 bat boxes to be used to encourage roosting birds and bats around the area.

A canoe-based litter pick pulled nine bags of rubbish as well as a broken gazebo and a sunken canoe from the lake.

An Ullswater farmer donated cakes for the workforce.

Another Fell Care Day will be held at Windermere October 25. Contact Sue Manson on 01539 733187 for more information.

Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk