BUSINESSES are being given the chance to help look after the special landscape of the Yorkshire Dales National Park – and give their workers a day out at the same time.
The national park has launched a series of corporate volunteering days over the coming months where staff from firms in the area can try their hand at something completely different.
The main activities will involve helping to maintain some of the thousands of kilometres of public rights of way within the national park or planting trees to create new, native woodland.
They include footpath maintenance at High Birkwith, near Horton-in-Ribblesdale, at Gordale Scar, and at Malham Cove.
Nick Cotton, the authority’s member champion for recreation management, said: “More and more companies see team-building days as an asset both in terms of strengthening relations between staff and as a chance to contribute in some way to their local community.
“This is a chance for corporate volunteers to carry on our work caring for this very special countryside."
And by taking part, companies could help meet their environmental goals.
“Our corporate volunteering programme will be of huge benefit to the landscape and it will help the companies to meet their environmental or community objectives. At the same time, it will enable those who take part to learn more about the national park and understand how important it is."
He added: “Without the help of hundreds of volunteers each year the authority staff couldn’t do a lot of the work it does to conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of this very special place.”
Other corporate days include tree planting near Hawes, and at Dandra Garth, Garsdale, and woodland coppicing at Freeholders Wood, Aysgarth.
Companies taking part in the programme are asked to make a donation that will go towards the cost of organising the individual volunteering days and towards continuing the authority’s maintenance and conservation work. To find out more, go to the national park website at yorkshiredales.org.uk/looking-after/how-you-can-help/volunteering/corporate-volunteering, or email volunteers@yorkshiredales.org.uk
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