Volunteers at work restoring the Rydal sheepfold

National park supporters restored a fellside sheepfold to celebrate their organisation’s 75th anniversary.

Volunteers from the Friends of the Lake District and the national park set to restoring the disused structure, which was close to total collapse. The farmer on whose land it stands is so pleased with the result he says he will start using it again.

The volunteers rebuilt 22m of drystone walling that make up the sheepfold, which is almost 150 years old and was originally used for gathering sheep, dipping and washing them.

The fold can be seen from the Nab Scar to Heron Pike section of the classic Lake District upland walk round the Fairfield Horseshoe.

Chris Hodgson, the tenant farmer at the site at Rydal, said: “I’m really pleased with the quality of the restoration work carried out by the Friends of the Lake District and Lake District national park volunteers.

“Now I have a useable sheepfold in an area of the fell I can gather the sheep into. Old features are always better looked after if they have a continued use, like stone walls and barns.”

Jack Ellerby, policy officer with Friends of the Lake District said: “One of our members told us that the sheepfold needed repairing as they didn’t want to see it completely tumble down.

“These historic features are linked to the cultural evolution of upland farming systems in the Lake District and should be preserved for future generations.”

Steve Gaskell, Lake District national park ranger said the sheepfold was an important landscape feature and was used for shelter in winter months. “Our voluntary rangers have significant experience in repairing drystone walls and were pleased to work with Friends members in their anniversary year,” he added.

• Volunteers were able to enjoy a game of croquet on the lawns of Rydal Hall at the weekend at a thank-you party arranged as part of the anniversary celebrations.

The Friends of the Lake District organised the event to honour conservationists, volunteer helpers and people with countryside skills belonging to charity and community organisations that had teamed up with the Friends on their projects.

Party guest mark out the number 75 on the lawn of Rydal Hall

The Friends helped fund the restoration of the historic gardens at Rydal Hall, designed in 1909 by Thomas Mawson, the leading garden designer of the time.

Friends of the Lake District gave £8,000 in 2004 towards restoration of the grot – a listed summerhouse with a viewing window that overlooks a waterfall – and some planting of oak trees in the grounds. The garden restoration work was finished last year.

Andrew Forsyth, executive director of the charity, said: “We thought this was a simple and very traditionally English way to say thank you to those who most directly help us to deliver our objectives.

“We are most grateful to Jonathon Green and his team at Rydal Hall for generously suggesting that we could use the magnificently restored gardens for the afternoon.”

Guests at the event also shared a special cake to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the group, which is dedicated to protecting and enhancing the landscape of Cumbria and the Lake District.