The National Trust Stackpole estate was the location for a party weekend to celebrate the amazing energy and effort provided by the National Trust working holiday volunteers.

This year, the Olympics demonstrated how volunteers can make a fantastic difference to society, thereby creating positive role models for young people. National and local organisations are being encouraged to recruit and positively engage volunteers in their work. At the National Trust, 2012 is the 45th year of the volunteer working holidays and the Stackpole team hosted a celebration event to acknowledge their vital contribution to the Trust's work.

The National Trust working holidays began in 1967; participants can enjoy interesting activities, learn new skills, have new experiences and provide thousands of volunteer work hours. Working holiday activities range from hedge laying, charcoal making, coppicing, walled gardening and many other conservation tasks. Many participants combine these activities with leisure activities at the chosen site such as photography or surfing or just getting out and about at beautiful locations.

The celebration volunteers arrived at Stackpole for the weekend where they were shown to their accommodation at the newly refurbished Stackpole Outdoor Learning Centre and were welcomed that evening with a meal and a talk from the Trust's Pembrokeshire general manager, Jonathan Hughes, who said;

"Volunteering can be incredibly rewarding and really makes a big difference to the places we look after and people's enjoyment of them. It was great to share in the celebrations of what's been achieved over the last 45 years, and for Stackpole to benefit from the energy and enthusiasm the volunteers brought with them."

The volunteers helped out with tasks in Lodge Park woods which included a mass planting of 4,000 snowdrop bulbs in the former pleasure grounds which will provide a carpet of colour for the spring. They also participated in activities that are available on the estate such as bush craft and coasteering, activities many had not experienced before.

Leslie Smith, a working holiday volunteer, said of the event: "I thoroughly enjoyed the weekend, from the location and accommodation to the conservation tasks and activities, especially the bush craft, and the cream teas were to die for. The weather was great, the staff really friendly and helpful, from the staff on-site to those at head office. It was great to catch up with everyone and also to be part of an enthusiastic and supportive network. Most importantly, I feel that my efforts are appreciated and really make a difference. Roll on NT50!"

Dame Fiona Reynolds, the director general of the National Trust, joined the celebration in recognition of the work of the volunteers.

The event was a real party which included a hog roast and music from north Pembrokeshire band Honey Fungus. The groups and Stackpole staff rounded off the weekend with a get-together in Lodge Park woods to plant a commemorative red oak tree, before returning to the centre to enjoy a traditional Welsh Sunday lunch.

If you are interested in the working holidays scheme or volunteering in a more personal way at the Stackpole Estate, please visit the National Trust website or contact Stackpole direct on 01646 661359