Friends of the Lake District Sponsor a Ranger

Starting in April 2025, Friends of the Lake District is sponsoring Patrick Gaffney, a ranger in the North Fix the Fells team. In return for supporting the role, Patrick will be supplying Friends of the Lake District with Fix the Fells content for their social media platforms and taking part in activities such as the annual Fell Care Day.

Patrick Gaffney (pictured above), aged 26, has worked for Fix the Fells for around eight months. He said: “It’s great working as a ranger – we have a workplace unlike many other people. On a summer’s day this can be the best job in the world, but on a typical Lake District day it can be tough going! I get a lot of satisfaction from seeing the end result of our work and knowing that we are doing our bit to help protect the landscape while enabling people to enjoy it.”

Fix the Fells Partnership Manager, Isabel Berry, said: “We’re really grateful to Friends of the Lake District for sponsoring one of our ranger posts. There’s no statutory funding for erosion repair work on paths up in the fells, so we need to raise around three quarters of a million pounds annually to support our work. This kind of enriched support from a partner organisation really helps.”

Michael Hill, CEO of Friends of the Lake District said: “Fix the Fells rangers and volunteers do an amazing job caring for the well-trodden paths that criss-cross the landscape. Without their hard work, there would be many more scars on the landscape due to erosion. We’re looking forward to sharing more about the work that Patrick and his fellow rangers do and the challenges they face. This sponsorship underscores our commitment to preserving the natural beauty of the Lake District.”

Make sure you’re signed up to Friends of the Lake District’s monthly Postcard from the Lakes to get updates on the work Patrick and his team are doing. Sign up here.

To view the full media release on Friends of the Lake District’s website, click here.

June 2025