£1m plan to preserve paths into the country
THE countryside around Macclesfield will get some care and attention through a major fundraising project.
Macclesfield MP David Rutley has been on a visit to the Peak District National Park to learn more about a project to raise £1million to maintain paths on the hills in the countryside.
It’s in a bid to preserve the locations for future use and keep them accessible for visitors, to maintain the money these visitors bring to the local economy.
The national park is set to benefit from the second stage of the British Mountaineering Council’s (BMC) ‘ Mend Our Mountains’ campaign, which Mr Rutley learned more about on his visit to Mam Tor.
David joined the BMC and senior representatives from the Peak Dis- trict National Park Authority to hear about the BMC’s aim to raise £1 million to repair key mountain paths in National Parks, including in the Peak District.
Mr Rutley said he supports the fundraising.
Speaking after the event, he said: “I welcome the aims of this important initiative.
“In Macclesfield, we are fortunate to have easy access to the Peak District National Park, and it is vital that this beautiful countryside is preserved for future use.
“As well raising funds to maintain mountain paths, the Mend our Mountain campaign is a good opportunity to encourage visitors to our National Parks to enjoy outdoor recreation, and support our local rural tourism agenda, while minimising their impact on the landscape.”
There are two proposed projects from the Mend our Mountains campaign that will benefit the Peak District.
The first is path repairs and restoration work on the Great Ridge, extending from Mam Tor in the area between Hollins Cross and Back Tor, and the second path improvement and repairs on tracks on Cut Gate in the Derwent Valley. This first stage of the initiative became one of is the most successful fundraising appeals for mountain paths. The crowdfunding campaign raised over £100,000, and the Access and Con- servation Trust also donated £8,000 to the initiative. In the Peak District, funds were invested in path repair work on Ringing Roger, on Kinder Scout.
Donations can be made at thebmc.co.uk/ mend- our- mountainslives- on-- you- can-stilldonate.