Taking a trip down memory lane with Volunteer, Bev

We sat down with Bev, one of our long-standing volunteers, to reminisce about the good ol’ days and her volunteering journey with the Lake District National Park Authority.

Where did your volunteering story begin?

“At 30 years old in 1983, I signed up to become a volunteer with the National Park. I became a Discovery Walk leader, taking walks based on Beatrix Potters life. When these walks came to an end several years later, I got involved with First Aid training with British Red Cross. Later on, I got involved in First Aid incident days, guided walks, patrols, and worked with Rangers as part of my Lake District National Park volunteering. Back then we were called Voluntary Warden’s and I still have my first badge and Warden’s card.”

“My Husband and I, who also joined the volunteering team but has since retired, frequently visited the Lake District. We fell in love with the place and eventually moved near Longsleddale.”

Tell us more about the Discovery Walks

“There used to be events called Discovery Walks where those who knew about a specialised subject would take a group of people on a paid tour. My specialism was Beatrix Potter, I just loved talking about her. My love for her came around when I watched a programme about her on TV and I was in awe, I simply said ‘wow, what a woman’.”

“I joined the Beatrix Potter Society and for the last 18 years I have also been a volunteer, along with my husband, as Visitor Experience Volunteer at Hill Top for the National Trust.”

What are your current volunteering duties for the National Park?

“I’ve retired from the guided walks and ranger duties and currently work at the bird hide at our Visitor Centre, Brockhole on Windermere. I’m a keen bird watcher and enjoy sharing my knowledge with visitors. My favourite bird is a Bullfinch, the males are pretty and flamboyant. I love talking to visitors and seeing their faces when they see a bird or even a deer -yes, we often see deer and their young in the small woodland at our bird hide! It’s great to see children getting involved and learning more about nature and wildlife.”

How has volunteering for the National Park changed over the years?

“It was quite funny looking back, as all the volunteers used to communicate via radios. I was actually the coordinator at what was the radio base at Waterhead, Ambleside. My Husband was also the radio engineer. We also had a volunteer logbook, which I have here from 1989, where we wrote down our yearly volunteering duties. It’s not like today where everything is done digitally. We used to get sent a monthly newsletter in the post, this one I have kept is from 1998. It makes me chuckle reading parts about me sharing Health and Safety updates.”

“The uniform has changed over the years, as you can see in one of the pictures of me on the Kentmere Horseshoe for a winter patrol!”

What do you enjoy most about volunteering?

“I’m a people person, I get a lot out of meeting other volunteers, gaining so much knowledge and being able to pass it on. I love connecting with people and talking to visitors, I would have regular visitors who would join my walks and even send me Christmas cards! The number of different activities I got involved in and meeting like-minded people, we just had so much fun. But I also have a particular connection and love for the place. I feel honoured to live in the Lake District.”