Many different people want to help look after the Yorkshire Dales National Park. And they do it all for free! They volunteer their spare time to a whole variety of organisations like the RSPB, the National Trust, village museums, local wildlife projects and mountain rescue groups.
Along with our very own Dales Volunteers, they contribute thousands of hours of important work to the National Park, its residents and its visitors.
Organisations you could help
Micro Volunteering
Why not help when out and about ? The UK family of National Parks (NPUK) have a new opportunity for the public to help with conservation – with a little help from a bit of technology. ‘Look Wild’ is a free app that anyone can get on their phone and then use to upload photos or audio of wildlife that they find on their travels. Don’t worry if you don’t know anything about identifying plants or animals because the app – and the community involved with it – will help identify them for you. You can become a conservationist and scientist as you collect data on the beautiful flora and fauna that surrounds you. For more information and to get involved please click here
If you live near enough, you might like to consider becoming a volunteer for one of the organisations based in or near the National Park. Here are organisations and venues happy to work with volunteers:
- Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (particularly the ‘A date with nature’ Peregrine Falcon project at Malham Cove).
- The National Trust
- Friends of Dales Countryside Museum
- Farfield Mill Arts & Heritage Centre
- Grassington Museum
- Friends of Settle-Carlisle Railway Line
- Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust
Can’t volunteer – why not donate?
If you can’t join a group or don’t have the time, then why not contribute to one of the schemes or charities that support the National Park?
Friends of the Three Peaks
Our Friends of the Three Peaks scheme raises money that goes directly toward improving access in this iconic part of the National Park.
Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust
The Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust is a charity that raises hundreds of thousands of pounds every year for conservation and access projects in the area.
The National Trust
The National Trust look after important landscapes around Malham Tarn and in Upper Wharfedale.