Specialist contractors
As well as four upland path teams employed by the National Trust, Fix the Fells uses a small number of specialist contractors mostly based in Cumbria. As with the path teams, they have developed a pool of expertise in upland path repair work over the years. The work is planned by Fix the Fells staff and overseen by rangers and wardens from the National Park and National Trust. Some of the regular contractors are listed below.
Neil Bassett, Cockermouth
Neil is self employed and is often joined by Ian Unsworth for Fix the Fells jobs. He has been doing footpath repair and maintenance work with Fix the Fells for several years. Recent work includes a job on the summit of Helvellyn to redefine the path and seeding to restore vegetation beside it. His next job is path maintenance and drain clearance in the North Lakes. Neil enjoys the creative side of the Fix the Fells work and being out on the mountains everyday.
Taff Greenshaw - The Heritage Landscape Company, Appleby
Taff has been working with Fix the Fells since 2001. He and his colleague Stuart Morley took part in a Fix the Fells apprenticeship scheme in 2001 and went on work extensively in the Lake District. His latest job was at Coniston Old Man doing path maintenance work. Taff enjoys Fix the Fells work because he feels it’s giving something back to the landscape, and it gives him the opportunity to talk to the public about path erosion and why the work he’s doing is necessary. As well doing footpath work for Fix the Fells, Taff does dry-stone walling, hedge-laying and renovates historical buildings.
Joe Geer, Ravenglass
Joe has been working with Fix the Fells since 2001, originally as a National Trust team supervisor and more recently as a self employed contractor. His recent work includes stone pitching at Rannerdale Knotts in Buttermere, and drainage and pitching on the path from Stonethwaite to Dock Tarn in Borrowdale. In addition to path repair work he does fencing, dry stone walling, tree work and scrub management. He would like to see increasing emphasis on habitat management work in future.
Tom Reeves - Making Trax, Kirkby Stephen
Tom has been carrying out upland path repair and maintenance work in the Lake District since the mid 1990s, and he also works in the Northumberland and North York Moors National Parks. He is passionate about his line of work and his latest jobs in Cumbria include work at Haweswater and Blencathra. Tom sees a lot of paths in need to repair and is keen to see funding for Fix the Fells continue, so that vital work can be carried out to a good standard.
Richard Whiting, Elterwater
Richard and his team have been carrying out upland path repair work in the National Park since 1995. Their recent work includes stabilising several steep narrow sections of path on Striding Edge; drainage, soil inversion and stone pitching along the Sticks Pass near Greenside, and repairing gullied sections of path at Dollywaggon. Richard also does a range of conservation work including dry stone walling, hedge laying and woodland management.