Everest man applauds Lake District fells 'fixers'
9 February 2007
Praise for the repair work carried out on the Lake District's upland paths has come from the highest possible source - the first Englishman ever to stand on top of the world on the summit of Mount Everest!
Doug Scott told a 'fix the fells' celebration lunch yesterday at the Langdale Hotel and Country Club, that the path repairers had done a "fantastic" job over the past five years and all too often this skillful work was not always fully appreciated.
"The true revelation is that most of these paths look like they have been here forever - they don't look like an 'urban' addition to the wonderful Lake District environment.
"Done right, these paths will last for years and it's a true testament to staff time and commitment that the huge erosion scars that were seen in the nineties have all but disappeared. Let's hope they never come back," Doug added.
As the Upland Path Restoration Project comes to an end and the new 'Fix the Fells' (the £5 million scheme to repair the Lake District's well loved hills) enters its first year, a celebration lunch was organised to say thank you to the path workers and contractors whose craftsmanship and dedication have made the past 5 years of this essential work possible.
There are now 20 dedicated people working on the fells, maintaining and repairing badly damaged paths. These path teams are local people, and the repair work they carry out relies on public donation to keep going. Last year £180,000 was generated through donation from visitors to the Lake District.
Ongoing support from the public is vital to repair and maintain our beautiful scenery. The Langdale Hotel and Country Club, which hosted Thursdays event, is a key fundraising business for the path repair work. David Stanning, Chief Executive of The Langdale Hotel and Country Club said:
"It was a pleasure to host this event for the path repair workers, and great that their hard work is being recognized. Our organisation fundraises for Fix the Fells, through the Man at the Top scheme and our customers are only too happy to make a donation, often meeting the teams on the hills while out walking, and seeing the real difference that their gift is making to the Lake District."
