OWPG AWARD WINNERS 2017
GOLDEN EAGLE
lifetime achievement award for outstanding services to the outdoors
Winner Richard Fox, Operational Manager, Fix the Fells
Nominee list prepared by the OWPG committee, awarded by a vote of the OWPG membership
R
ichard Fox is responsible for
the day-to-day repair and
maintenance of the Lake District
upland paths through Fix the Fells.
Over the last fi fteen years he has
directed the repair of over 250 paths.
This includes sourcing stone from as
close to the work sites as possible,
arranging helicopter lifts, working on
the specifi cations and landscaping
requirements, and being responsible
for quality assurance. In this context
Richard manages one of the most
successful volunteer programmes in
the Lake District.
The ‘Lengthsmen’ scheme
undertakes the vast majority of the
maintenance work – nearly 2000
volunteer hours each year – freeing
Richard Fox receiving his award from OWPG chairman, Peter Gillman
the National Trust and National Park
rangers to focus on larger project
work. His expertise has been utilised
by the government’s Environment
Committee to pull together its
code of practice for the repair of
mountain paths, and he has shared
his knowledge with path workers in
Scotland, Wales, Ireland and beyond.
Without Richard, the massively
popular paths of the Lake District
would be in a much worse state of
repair and the fells would be scarred
with human erosion. His work also
helps improve the water quality of
the streams, becks, tarns and lakes
by reducing the soil washing into
water network.
For more information about the work of
Fix the Fells, to see the latest photos,
and possibly even make a donation,
visit www.fi xthefells.co.uk
winter 2017 | Outdoor focus 11