Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland National Park is almost 2,000 years old – but its current volunteer army is catching up.
The volunteers were celebrated at a park event that recognised their significant combined voluntary service totalling over 1,000 years.
Among those honoured were father and son Brian Atkins and Graham Atkins, who began volunteering in 1969 when Graham was 12 years old.
“It’s my county and my heritage and I wanted to get involved. It’s been a passion,” said Graham.
Long-serving volunteers received a certificate and bespoke pin badge marking 10, 20, 30, 40 or 50 years of service, presented by David Renwick, chief executive officer of Northumberland National Park Authority.
He said: “To celebrate over a combined 1,000 years of voluntary service is a remarkable achievement and a testament to the dedication, passion and generosity of our volunteers.
“For six decades our volunteers have helped care for our landscapes, welcome visitors, share knowledge and inspire others to connect with Northumberland National Park.
“As we celebrate Northumberland National Park’s 70th anniversary year, it’s fitting that we recognise the people who have helped shape this landscape. Volunteers have been at the heart of the National Park since its earliest days, and their contribution will continue to be vital as we work together to protect and enhance this special place for the future.”
Brian and Graham Atkins recall that when they first joined more than 50 years ago, all the volunteers had a strong interest in natural history and a deep knowledge of the county gained through walking and cycling its landscapes.
Often Graham and his father would work together, sometimes at different ends of a job, and then meet up in the middle for lunch.
Graham said: “I like giving something back. I’m proud of my heritage and my county and to be able to share my knowledge and experiences with visitors.”
Dot and David Patterson are husband and wife who have volunteered their time together for more than 40 years.
Dot said: “We just love being outdoors and being a volunteer gets you out when you might not feel like doing it because you’re committed, and you thoroughly enjoy it.”
David said: “We were both brought up that you had a duty to do something, to give something back.”
The volunteers also viewed the new exhibition, Volunteer Voices, at The Sill National Landscape Discovery Centre.
The exhibition is the creation of volunteers Sue Loader and Sally Hewitt, who set out initially to record volunteers’ memories before they were lost. The oral history project led to the temporary exhibition and a book which documents the history of volunteers in Northumberland National Park fully for the first time.
Couple Mike and Liz Smith, who each received recognition for 50 years of volunteering, visited the exhibition and saw themselves in a picture from 1970 with their children on one of the panels.
The Volunteer Service today has over 200 active participants working across many different areas and is currently supported by the National Lottery Community Fund, Barbour Foundation and Ninevah Charitable Trust.
