North York Moors Explorer Club with their new tools
A group dedicated to promoting a long-distance challenge walk has chipped in to help a club of young volunteers in a national park.
The New Lyke Wake Club was formed after the demise of the old club in 2005.
It takes its name from the 64km (40-mile) challenge that crosses the North York Moors and is traditionally completed within 24 hours.
A lyke is the old term for a corpse and the not-for-profit club is run by a council of elders whose aim is to provide support for those who tackle the route, promote the North York Moors and its history and environment, and encourage long-distance walking and running.
The New Lyke Wake Club donated £200 to the national park authority’s Explorer Club volunteers, to provide tools including spades, trowels and secateurs.
The Explorer Club meets one Sunday a month and enables families to learn about the habitats of the national park and take an active role in caring for them by getting involved in projects such as tree planting and footpath restoration.
Child-sized tools are available and wildlife cameras, digital microscopes and other kit are on offer to those attending to enhance the experience. Families are also given suggestions of activities to do at home.
Gerry Orchard, general secretary for the New Lyke Wake Club, joined the Explorer Club for a day on a task carrying out footpath maintenance on a section of the Lyke Wake Walk near Huthwaite Green. He said: “Although run by unpaid volunteers and not run for profit, the New Lyke Wake Club does manage to raise a small amount of money for good causes – a great example of this being the Explorer Club run by the North York Moors National Park Authority.
“The New Lyke Wake Club feels that it is paramount that people are educated from an early age in an encouraging environment to respect the countryside and ensure that it remains as a legacy for future generations. The Explorer Club achieves these goals as well as doing practical good by means of path repairs, tree planting and the like and, perhaps more importantly, it’s fun!”
Tammy Andrews, Explorer volunteers co-ordinator, said: “I would like to say a heartfelt thank you on behalf of the Explorer Club volunteers to the New Lyke Wake Club for their very generous donation.
“The Explorer Club offers families a way to get involved in and experience the wonderful landscapes and wildlife of the North York Moors. Hopefully the personal and positive experiences our young volunteers have with nature will instil in them a desire to care for special places like the North York Moors as throughout their lives.”
The Lyke Wake Walk crosses the North York Moors from Osmotherley to Ravenscar, essentially following the line of the watershed crossing the moors at its widest point.
The late Bill Cowley originated the concept of the walk and on 2 October 1955 the first crossing was completed.
The New Lyke Wake Club formed in 2004 following the announcement that the Old Club was going to close after its 50th Year. More information on both the walk and the club can be found on its website.
