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National Trust ‘sacks’ 70 volunteers at standard deer park in Cheshire

  • Volunteers at Dunham Massey have had roles ‘paused for a 12 months’ as a consequence of evaluate 

‘Baffled’ volunteers at one of many National Trust‘s hottest properties are indignant at being ‘sacked’ after being informed to observe new guidelines.

Every 12 months greater than half-a-million guests benefit from the 300-acre deer park and historic stately house at Dunham Massey in Cheshire.

But within the newest of a string of rows to beset the charity, 70 volunteers have been knowledgeable their roles are being ‘paused’ for a 12 months as a part of a evaluate.

The helpers – lots of them retired – led guided walks in addition to guaranteeing guests maintain their distance from the herd of fallow deer. Among them is 80-year-old Tony Russell who yesterday stated lots of them felt ‘indignant, annoyed and baffled’ at being axed – in his case after 17 years’ service. ‘Dunham Massey cannot survive with out volunteers,’ he stated.

'Baffled' volunteers at the National Trust's 300-acre deer park and historic stately home at Dunham Massey in Cheshire (pictured) are angry at being 'sacked' after being told to follow new rules

‘Baffled’ volunteers on the National Trust’s 300-acre deer park and historic stately house at Dunham Massey in Cheshire (pictured) are indignant at being ‘sacked’ after being informed to observe new guidelines

The charity has faced allegations of following a woke agenda over its policy of linking historic sites with colonialism and slavery (Pictured: Dunham Massey in Cheshire)

The charity has confronted allegations of following a woke agenda over its coverage of linking historic websites with colonialism and slavery (Pictured: Dunham Massey in Cheshire)

Issues which have angered some volunteers are understood to be making guided walks extra ‘inclusive’.

The charity has confronted allegations of following a woke agenda over its coverage of linking historic websites with colonialism and slavery.

In an electronic mail to the park guides, Dunham Massey basic supervisor Georgie Lofthouse knowledgeable them their position was being ‘paused’ for a 12 months ‘in order that we will totally contemplate one of the best future for parkland volunteering’.