WITH millions of tourists taking the time to visit the Lake District every year, the park clearly is a special place, but volunteers are needed to preserve it for future generations.

The National Trust is appealing for people to give up spare time this winter and perhaps brave chilly Cumbrian winds to help out with one of the many projects throughout the Lake District.

The trust was set up in 1886, to help save the countryside, coastline and buildings from continuous industrialisation and development.

Today, the organisation cares for swathes of land throughout Cumbria, including beauty spots such as Tarn Hows, as well as historic properties, such as Beatrix Potter's former home, Hill Top at High Sawrey.

Vicky Wilkinson, regional community and volunteering officer with the trust, described some of the exciting long and short-term opportunities on offer for people willing to give up their time "We have a variety of projects which are on-going and we have teams of volunteers across the Lake District and we are really keen for people to join them.

"We have teams of local people working on footpath maintenance and we have walking volunteers who go out on the fells, looking for problems with fences and tracks, who then report back to the property team."

Employers are also encouraged to give their staff the opportunity to gain new skills by volunteering help is particularly needed with clearing up the aftermath of January's storms.

"The countryside staff really have a lot on at the moment so we could really do with a lot of help," explained Mrs Wilkinson.

Other exciting offers up for grab include helping on Coniston Water's famous steam yacht Gondola or at some of the museums run by the trust such as Wordsworth House at Cockermouth.

"People can come and help out for a day, or a week for a very intensive period or give up their time over a period of months. It is whenever it suits the person," said Mrs Wilkinson.

Rob Clarke, 37, abandoned his high-flying office job in Bristol for a life in the Lakes for a post as a long-term volunteer assistant warden with the trust.

Accommodation was also included with the placement, which can last for up to a year and Mr Clarke's tasks included work on paths and boundaries as as well-general conservation and maintenance work. Mr Clarke now says that his work with the trust has allowed him to change his career path completely by helping him to gain new skills.

"I love being out and about and doing this job has allowed me to get skills for jobs such as being a warden or estate work, for which previously I wouldn't have stood a chance," he said.For more information, contact the National Trust's North West office at Grasmere on 015394 35599.