Our work
Who we are and what we do
Unfortunately there's no time to admire the view
© Photography by Ward
We are part of the National Trust's South Lakes team and one of five National Trust teams that cover the Lake District. Our countryside team's base is at Boon Crag just outside Coniston but our team covers a wide area of the Lake District's southern area.
From fixing a fence, wall, or footpath half-way up a mountain, to demonstrating countryside skills to you at Hill Top, or guiding walks our work here has an influence on many of you as visitors to the Lake District every year although you may not always notice it.
Our activities are very varied and we hope you'll enjoy learning more of what we do here.
Follow our blog
Userful links:
Keep up to date on the National Trust South Lakes countryside news blog
Find out what's new with our historic house colleagues National Trust South Lakes, Hill Top & Beatrix Potter Gallery news blog
Welcoming visitors
Five ways our team can help make your visit to the countryside more enjoyable:
- managing/improving access
- creating downloadable walks & trails
- giving advice to visitors
- helping with working holidays
- guiding walks
Practising countryside conservation
Five ways our team can help countryside conservation around the South Lakes:
- managing woodlands
- maintaining field boundaries
- liaising with tenant farmers
- undertaking habitat maintenance
- repairing damage
Meet the team
Richard is our specialist woodland ranger.
Our countryside team has a lot of local knowledge so look out for our red-fleeced rangers and don't be shy about asking them questions or saying 'hello'.
Helping to change lives
A day off for a volunteer group from Basecamp
© National Trust/Rob Clarke
Groups come to work with our specialised Volunteer Centre staff on organised conservation projects, for the day (sometimes on a regular basis) or on a residential basis staying at our High Wray Basecamp. The challenges they face vary from group to group but all learn new skills and experience new things and the feedback is good.
There are a number of different and varied partner groups; see our feature on the chosen group this month. To follow activities generally at High Wray Basecamp, go to their Facebook page (external link).
Our volunteer group of the month
Find out about one of the volunteer groups we work with from our Volunteer Centre at High Wray.
They help us carry out practical conservation projects in the surrounding landscape to benefit both visitors and wildlife.
What's in the South Lakes?
On our South Lakes countryside patch we have:
- Coniston and Hawkshead villages
- The Sawreys
- Wray and Claife
- Tarn Hows
- Yewdale valley and tarn
- Tilberthwaite
- Blea Tarn
- and Little Langdale
Current vacancies
Any current permanent jobs are advertised on the National Trust jobs website.
We do recruit seasonal staff every year to help welcome our visitors during the season, contact our office for seasonal vacancy information.
Who to contact
Our South Lakes team operates out of different bases around the South Lakes but our countryside operation is based at Boon Crag near Coniston.
Telephone number 015394 41456 or e-mail southlakes@nationaltrust.org.uk