Paul Rose, right, and Lake District National Park Authority chief executive Richard Leafe, left, join award winners at the Kendal Mountain Festival. Photo: Bob Smith/grough

A volunteer ranger who has completed more than 3,000 hours with a national park was among recipients of awards presented at the Kendal Mountain Festival.

Television broadcaster and adventurer Paul Rose handed over trophies to winners of the national park volunteer awards at the event on Saturday.

The awards recognise the outstanding contribution that volunteers make in helping to care for national park landscapes and inspiring others to care for them.

The four categories of award were for individuals, young people, groups and projects. The young person award was won by Katie Armstrong and the group award was won by South Tyne Sustainability, both from the Northumberland national park. The project award went to the Rare Invertebrates project from the Cairngorms national park.

North York Moors authority volunteer David Bream picked up the individual’s award for his work.

Mr Bream has been volunteering at the North York Moors for six years. As a voluntary ranger he carries out weekend patrols, checks public rights of way, repairs minor problems and helps the public enjoy their visit. He was also one of the first task day leaders in the North York Moors national park – highly qualified volunteers who lead groups on practical tasks.

He said: “When I first started volunteering six years ago I did not realise what a large and satisfying part of my life this would become.

“My volunteering has brought me into contact with a wide variety of people, both permanent staff and volunteers, who have a huge range of knowledge and enthusiasm about the national park. It is great to be a small part of such a passionate group of people.

“The last year has been especially rewarding for me as I have worked with young people, including excluded pupils and Duke of Edinburgh Award candidates. For the next four years I will also be helping out on the Ryevitalise project whose aim it is to revitalise the River Rye’s natural and cultural heritage. None of this would I have ever envisaged before I retired.”

Debbie Trafford, head of recreation and ranger services with the North York Moors National Park Authority, said: “It was very difficult to nominate just one of our many fantastic volunteers, as they are all dedicated, hardworking individuals committed to the values of our national park.

“We chose David this year as he has always been willing to take on the less glamorous tasks day after day and is an excellent ambassador for volunteering.

“He is always willing to try something new, to trial a new approach and give really constructive feedback. He seems tireless in his commitment and is enormously passionate about the national park, the landscape and wildlife, and the work of the authority.

“We are delighted he has been recognised.”

“We will be putting more of our amazing volunteers forward for next year’s awards as they all deserve to be recognised for everything that they do.”

Individual winners will receive prizes including clothing provided by Columbia Sportswear and products from Clif. In addition, a £500 Clif bursary is given to each of the group and project winners, along with a selection of Clif bars to help their volunteer work.

Winners were presented with their awards on stage in the Basecamp area of the Kendal Mountain Festival, and had a chance to talk to the audience about what volunteering means to them.

The judging panel this year was made up of the volunteer co-ordinators from all of the national parks. The panel said: “Judging these awards is a humbling experience as it gives us the opportunity to learn about so many people and projects that are making an immense contribution to the 15 national parks across the UK. It was a difficult choice this year as there were so many inspiring entries.”

The awards are sponsored by Columbia Sportswear who provide clothing for staff and rangers in all of the 15 UK national parks.

Eoin Treacy, regional marketing manager at Columbia Sportswear, said: “Huge congratulations to this year’s amazing winning volunteers.

“Volunteers give their time, energy, skills and enthusiasm to help care for the UK’s 15 incredible national parks. It’s this inspiring contribution that Columbia Sportswear is proud to celebrate through sponsorship of these awards.”