Walkway takes stride forward as part of wetland scheme
A grant has helped fundraising efforts to retain a River Tamar trail when flood defences are eventually breached, writes Charlie Elder
ARIVERSIDE walkway project connected with plans to breach flood defences at Calstock in Cornwall has received a funding boost.
The Tamar Community Trust said it is “delighted” that the Cornwall Community Foundation has approved a grant of £5,000 towards the construction of a walkway.
As part of the Calstock Flood Defence Scheme, the Environment Agency is to breach part of the embankment at Calstock to create a 14 hectare intertidal habitat. The scheme was devised to protect the centre of Calstock from rising sea levels and the risk of catastrophic flooding.
This breach will cut across the Tamar Valley Discovery Trail which is a nationally promoted long-distance walking route through the Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and a part of the desire to achieve a coast to coast link to enable a complete circuit of Cornwall in association with the South West Coast Path Association.
The River Tamar Walkway and Wetland Project was created to raise funds and build a walkway spanning the breach enabling the continuance of this vital trail. It is anticipated that the breach will be made in September/October 2021 and construction of the walkway will start this summer.
Jane Kiely, chairperson of the Tamar Community Trust, said: “This has been an exciting, if not demanding, project but with so many interested groups pulling together, as well as Calstock Parish Council and Cornwall Council, we are sure this will be a good outcome for Calstock.
“There has been so much interest in the newly created wetlands and a fledgling group of birdwatchers has a Facebook page and membership over 200 with such a lot of interest in the wildlife – little ringed plover, snipe, little egret – and wonderful photos being posted.
Jane continues: “We have about half the amount of funding we need and are awaiting answers to various bids we have put in, and this £5,000 from Cornwall Community Foundation is very welcome.”
Donna Wheadon, grants officer for the Cornwall Community Foundation, said: “The Cornwall Community Foundation are delighted to have been able to support the initiative of a raised boardwalk, across the Tamar Valley Discovery Trail, which in turn will create a wide range of benefits to the local area.
“At a time where we have all utilised the outdoors a lot more, we could not think of a better project to invest in.”
For more information and to view drone footage visit the Tamar Community Trust, site https://tamarcommunitytrust.wordpress.com/
The River Tamar Walkway and Wetland Project is a partnership between the Environment Agency, Tamar Community Trust, Calstock Parish Council, Calstock Footpath Society and Tamar Valley AONB.