High Close Volunteers

High Close Estate was left to the National Trust in 1951 and the house was leased to the Youth Hostel Association shortly afterwards. There would have once been nine gardeners employed to maintain the grounds at High Close, however much of the garden has been in disrepair for many years. Volunteers have taken ownership of the garden and begun work to clear back areas of rhododendron and reinstate the network of paths through the gardens.

After a break over the Christmas period, our volunteers have returned to High Close to continue their work.

While they were away……

The gardens were subject to the high winds over the last couple of months which has seen the loss of one of our large Rhododendrons.

The foresters winched the large root plate back into position and the ranger team cut the remaining stems and brash up to clear the pathway.

The hard work was left to the volunteer group who dragged and burned all the brash to make the site tidy.

Our Footpath Rangers have been hard at work over the last couple of months installing beautiful slate steps in the gardens to improve access and link the network of paths that the volunteers have been working on. The volunteers have been continuing with edging the paths to link into the steps

They have also begun work clearing and preparing the ground for seeding on the banking below the view point.

Another great days work by the team who we rely on to help continue to develop and reinstate the gardens at High Close. The volunteers will continue through the year to work on the footpath infrastructure and improving areas of the gardens to restore them to their former state

If you are interested in volunteering we are currently advertising for a Volunteer Coordinator for Grasmere and Great Langdale, to help us increase our volunteer numbers so we can continue the great work already started at High Close as well as working on new projects.

For more information:  Click Here