Take a working holiday with the National Trust

Are you bored with holidays that consist of little more than sun, sea, and sangria? Well, if the answer is yes, then the National Trust might be able to help with a new range of working holidays at some of Northern Ireland's most renowned beauty sports throughout 2002.

Holidaymakers will be able to help National Trust staff carry out a range of conservation tasks at a variety of Trust properties, including Castle Ward Estate, Murlough Nature Reserve and a Trust-owned island in Strangford Lough on the eight week-long holidays taking place throughout the year.

Each of the holidays will be based at the Castle Ward base camp - an old Gamekeeper's cottage located in the woods on the Castle Ward Estate. This beautiful 19th century building provides basic accommodation for up to 15 people, with gas heating, lighting, and cooking facilities provided. The holidays are also sponsored by Land Rover, which has enabled the Trust to keep the prices low - prices start from just £54 a week, including accommodation and food.

Four of the working holidays will involve work on the Castle Ward estate, ranging from path repairs and gardening to woodland maintenance and landscaping. The weeklong holidays commence on the weeks beginning March 23, June 8, July 29, and August 3.

There will also be two holidays at the Murlough National Nature Reserve, near Dundrum, Co. Down and two holidays at Strangford Lough. The holidays at Murlough take place in August on the weeks beginning 17 and 24 and will involve repairs to the network of boardwalks that allow the public access to the nearby beach.

The holidays at Strangford Lough take place on the weeks beginning August 10 and 31. The first holiday will involve scrub clearance on the small Trust-owned Horse Island, while the second holiday will take place in Nugents Wood, near Portaferry, where volunteers' duties will include helping to clear rhododendrons in order to encourage further growth of bluebells.

So, if you're interested in helping the environment during your holidays, you can contact the National Trust on: 0870 429 2428 or e-mail: workingholidays@smtp.ntrust.org.uk for a copy of the 2002 Working Holiday brochure. (KMcA)