Volunteers at work in Tongue Gill with Fix the Fells

Volunteer paddlers pulled 18 rubber ducks, along with watering cans and a tyre from a Cumbrian lake during a clean-up.

The canoeists were taking part in a Fell Care Day, during which a Government minister also saw trees planted in woodland near Grasmere.

Forestry minister Dan Rogerson visited the event, planting a tree at Gillside Wood, one of more than 400 planted in the site, which is managed by the Friends of the Lake District which organised the volunteer day.

During the day, 8km of upland paths were cleared; 27m of boardwalk built; 80 sq metres of woodland were thinned; 30m of path repaired, 3,000 native bulbs planted and 30 bags of rubbish collected. The 190 volunteers, leaders and staff also demolished 540 pieces of cake.

Those taking part included five-year-old primary school children, holiday-makers and active retirees.

Organisers said the Fell Care Day was a great success. Canoe litter pickers also removed beer cans and glass, antique bottles, a compost bin, a drainage pipe and pots from the lake, while walking litter pickers were pleased not to find too much litter but still collected several bags including rubber gloves and a pair of fisherman’s waders.

Volunteers planted 3,000 wild daffodil, snowdrop and native bluebell bulbs at High Close.

Dan Rogerson, second from left,with volunteers at the tree planting

Children from Grasmere Primary School got stuck into clearing the riverbank of overgrown bramble and snowberry to allow access to a seat.

Children and volunteers also took part in a red-squirrel conservation and monitoring walk around Allan Bank to learn about action to protect the squirrel and help its recovery by recording sightings for a national database project.

Four volunteer groups went up to higher ground to clear paths and drains around Grasmere with Fix the Fells to prevent erosion.

Volunteers thinned out beech saplings and scrub in woodland at Butharlyp Howe, to improve the woodland structure and create more room for other native trees to grow.

A guided Sky Ride bike ride took cyclists around the new cycle path around the lake.

Ruth Kirk, Fell Care Day organiser said: “I am bowled over by the monumental effort and spirit of goodwill that so many volunteers put in at our Grasmere Fell Care Day.

“People joined us from such a diverse range of organisations who all wanted to be part of the Fell Care Day. And with such a wide spread of ages, from five to 75, and above, it just goes to show how much our spectacular landscapes mean to so many people and how keen they are to help protect what is so special about them.

And this of course, is what Friends of the Lake District is all about.”

Friends of the Lake District worked with the National Trust, Lake District national park, British Cycling, Woodmatters and Grasmere Red Squirrel Group to deliver the day’s activities.

The charity intends holding more Fell Care Days next year.