ACCESS to a well-used Lakeland climbing crag has been improved and made safer thanks to the efforts of a band of volunteers, reports Victoria Clark.

Sixteen staff from Rock and Run Mountain Specialists in Ambleside gave up their weekend to complete a conservation project at Raven Crag, Great Langdale, which was started more than a year ago.

Phase one of the work took place in December 2000 when staff installed 40 metres of post and rail fence, built 12 metres of dry stone wall, created three new culverts and ten metres of new access path, to help improve safety around the crag following a number of landslides.

The rest of the work was scheduled to take place in April last year, but was postponed due to foot-and-mouth, although last weekend volunteers were able to finish off the project by planting a number of indigenous species, mainly juniper bushes, to help stabilise access routes to the crag.

Andy Hyslop, the owner of Rock and Run, was introduced to the project by the Lake District Tourism and Conservation Partnership, which encourages tourism businesses to help out with practical conservation projects.

Mr Hyslop said: "There is no shortage of people willing to help with conservation projects like Raven Crag, and Rock and Run is in the unique position of being able to mobilise climbers for this purpose.

"The problem has always been bringing together willing volunteers and landowners.

The partnership has provided an excellent vehicle to facilitate this process."

The National Trust, which manages the crag, provided materials and supervision during the day, as well as free camping overnight, and the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel, at the base of the crag, looked after the volunteers providing food during the day, and a meal on Saturday night.

Kirstie Royce, of the partnership, said: "This pooling of resources is incredibly valuable to the local community and the Lake District environment, it also gives individuals the opportunity to put something back to their holiday environment.

"It was an incredibly cons-tructive, fun and social weekend with volunteers keen to return to assist with further projects."