Malham youngster spends half-term volunteering with National Trust (From Craven Herald)
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Malham youngster spends half-term volunteering with National Trust
11:00am Saturday 2nd March 2013 in News
Jessica Swales has been volunteering with the National Trust
Young Jessica Swales put her half- term holiday to good use.
Instead of taking it easy, eight-year-old Jessica put on her wellies and volunteered with the National Trust for two days.
A member of the National Trust Kids Council, Jessica, who lives in Malham, contacted the Yorkshire Dales team asking to shadow a member of staff to find out just what a National Trust Ranger does.
She was shown the ropes by Cassie Williams and together they installed way markers and fixed a dry stone wall around Malham Tarn and helped build a gate in Upper Wharfedale.
Jessica said: “I was most looking forward to building a gate. The weather was so lovely and sunny we were able make the gate outside before fixing it in place.
“I had a bit of a go at everything, using a hammer and a saw and it was brilliant when we’d finished the job.
“I also helped to build a dry stone wall and there was even time to have a break, play and climb some trees. I couldn’t wait to get started in the morning. I love the outdoors and, when I leave school, I want to work outdoors and be a ranger.”
Her mum, Imogen, added: “Jessica would love to work for an organisation like the National Trust in the future.
“She loves the outdoors and thoroughly enjoys trips up to the Malham Tarn Estate.”
The National Trust team looks after nearly 6,000 hectares of land in Upper Wharfedale and across Malham Moor, including Malham Tarn.
“We were really excited to have Jessica with us,” said Cassie. “It was wonderful to see her enthusiasm for supporting our work at such a young age. Living locally she’s been coming to a number of events for a couple of years with her family so has had a glimpse at some of what we do.
“It was fantastic for me to be able to pass on my experience and to know we were helping to inspire the next generation, to care for such a beautiful and iconic landscape.”
