HELEN PEACOCKEwalks the trails around the Rollright Stones in the Cotswolds to find out about the work of a voluntary warden

Little Rollright hides its tiny 15th-century church among trees in a fold of sweeping hills. You have to travel along a dirt track to get to it, but it is worth the visit and proves a great starting place for a walk.

I was there to meet up with Cotswold Voluntary Warden Kate Farquhar-Thomson. Together we planned to walk the footpaths in her area and discuss the duties of a warden as she checked the condition of the many stiles and paths along the way.

The Cotswold Voluntary Wardens were set up in 1968. There are now 340 who have volunteered their time and skills to help keep the Cotswolds special by making a commitment of at least eight hours a month.

Not all of them walk the footpaths as Kate does, some help with the coppicing and hedge-laying or work on heritage projects such as dry-stone walling and the restoration of dew ponds and milestones.

Kate took up her duties a year ago. She is one of 44 volunteers covering the east district and says she is already gaining a great deal herself by taking on this voluntary post.

"While I was at the Wychwood Fair last year, I noticed the Cotswold Voluntary Warden stand and decided to get a leaflet to sign up as I love to be outside more than anything and have often wondered how I could combine my love of the outdoors with something useful and helpful," she said.

"Being a warden combines good and useful work, helping to preserve our lovely countryside with exercise and being outdoors. What's more, it's also manageable with a full-time job as I've found out."

Kate is classified as a Parish Warden. They act as a contact within parishes and are considered the eyes and ears of the conservation board which maintains the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Her patch is roughly 36 square miles and includes the Rollright Stones, which have stood on this windswept spur of the Cotswolds for thousands of years.

During the course of her activities, she is expected help to promote the Cotswolds AONB and the work of the voluntary wardens in partnership with farmers, tourist boards and other interested parties.

Her duties began with specific training in map and compass, and rights of way. She also attended an induction session which set out the guidelines wardens are expected to follow, which include establishing good working relationships with landowners, parish councils, and countryside and nature groups.

Her priority is to patrol public rights of way in her area at least twice a year, though well used and important local routes need to be patrolled more frequently, which is fine by Kate. She loves walking, especially when accompanied by Polly, her black Labrador, who has been getting plenty of extra walks since Kate became a warden.

Armed with her map and the other items of equipment that she is expected to carry - first-aid kit, gloves, secateurs, pruning saw, hammer, nails, tacks and way mark discs - she thinks nothing of walking six to nine miles in a morning.

The tools allow Kate to cope with clearance tasks, such as trimming back brambles or making good a broken waymark disc. Larger jobs, such as the broken style we encountered as we approached the last field leading to the cluster of ancient stones, known as the Whispering Knights, are reported to the District Parish Warden Co-ordinator, who will organise their repair.

Kate explained that it was not enough to report the style is broken, giving only a vague reference to its location. She has to ensure that as much detail as possible is provided, including a grid reference and a full description of the problem.

Conducting guided walks is another of Kate's duties and one that she's looking forward to. She says that some people prefer guided walks as it gives them a chance to meet people and ensures that they don't get lost.

Getting lost is a hazard caused mainly by an absence of footpath marker signs. "Although they point out the direction, they sometimes fail to indicate whether the path goes straight across a field or along the edges. If the footpath is not walked regularly, the path may not be obvious," said Kate.

During our walk, Kate pointed out several areas where further signs would help it easier for walkers. She will record these in her work diary.

The warden's walk programme caters for everyone, with many trails now tailored to families and timed to coincide with the half-term school holidays.

My walk with Kate took a couple of hours, during which time we crossed brooks, walked through small copses and woods, and strode across meadows and fields. It was exhilarating. By sharing the walk with someone like Kate who knows the area so well I was able to relax and enjoy my surroundings. So was my dog.

For information call the Cotswolds AONB on 01451 862000 or visit the website www.cotswoldsaonb.org.uk