CROSSING a swollen river, conserving sand dunes and playing the violin helped Hannah Longworth to achieve her Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award.

Hannah, 18, of Endmoor - a pupil at Queen Elizabeth School, Kirkby Lonsdale - worked with the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers for the service element of her award.

She helped on projects such as opening up the footpath and bridleway network, maintaining byways including Garburn Pass; coppicing areas of woodland near Satterthwaite and Hutton Roof, with the aim of encouraging species including wild violets and High Brown butterflies.

For her skill, Hannah played the violin with Westmorland Youth Orchestra, and she swam as physical recreation.

Hannah's Duke of Edinburgh expedition was four "very wet" days on foot in the Lake District.

The journey from Braithwaite, near Keswick, to Staveley took her across a swollen river which "proved exciting."

Her residential project was a working holiday with BTCV near Harlech, Wales, conserving sand dunes and controlling rhododendrons.