DOZENS of volunteers have taken to the fells to rebuild walls, plant hedges and maintain grassland.

Friends of the Lake District's mass volunteering event, in the Westmorland Dales, was organised in partnership with the Westmorland Dales Landscape Partnership team based in Tebay.

Staff from the landscape charity and the Westmorland Dales Partnership were joined by 44 volunteers and task leaders, carrying out a wide range of tasks, tending to the landscape of the Westmorland Dales.

Five metres of dry stone wall was rebuilt at Smardale. The dry stone wall is an important boundary wall as well as keeping the reserve stock proof.

170 metres of hedge was planted at Gaythorne Hall with volunteers joining Asby Tree Group, Woodland Trust, and Westmorland Dales apprentices.

200 metres of grassland ride clippings were raked off by volunteers at Cumbria Wildlife Trust's Smardale Nature Reserve. Maintenance of grassland ride habitat is important for the conservation of the pollinators who use them.

Hundreds of trees were checked and cared for with Eden Rivers Trust. The trees were previously planted for Natural Flood Management purposes, helping to make the Westmorland Dales landscape more resilient.

200 metres of scrub clearance was carried out with John Strutt Conservation Foundation along the old railway line at Hartley. The John Strutt Conservation Foundation is managing this area of land to create a range of habitats and increase biodiversity.

In total, 242 hours of work completed and 80 pieces of cake eaten.

Kay Andrews, landscape engagement officer with Friends of the Lake District, said: "Our regular Fell Care Days bring together people of all abilities and ages to have fun whilst carrying out incredibly important conservation work. It was great to take our Fell Care Day to the Westmorland Dales this year in partnership with the brilliant team at the Westmorland Dales Partnership Scheme."