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Walkers in Merseyside 1 step
closer to enjoying England Coast Path
Photographs by Patrick Trollope.
PEOPLE on Merseyside are 1 step closer
to being able to walk around the entire England coastline, as Natural England
announced, on 1 September 2017, that work has started on every stretch of the
England Coast Path.
The England Coast Path is an inspirational project to create the world's longest
continuous coastal trail. There are 2 stretches included in the project that run
through Merseyside:-
► From Cleveleys in Lancashire to Pier Head in
Liverpool.
► From Birkenhead to the Welsh Border.
Ramblers' volunteers are currently working with Natural England to discuss the
best route the England Coast Path should take along these stretches.
Ramblers' director of advocacy and engagement, Nicky Philpott said:- "This
is a huge milestone in the story of the England Coast Path and one we should
celebrate. Building sandcastles on the beach, dipping toes in the sea and taking
a stroll along clifftops are favourite activities that cross generations and
bring us all together. So it might surprise you that until recently, a third of
England's coastline was inaccessible. The Ramblers has long dreamed of a country
where everyone can freely enjoy our beautiful coast, so we were pleased that
after years of campaigning, in 2010, work started on the England Coast Path."
At almost 3,000 miles long, the path will stretch around the entire English
coastline. Not only will this open up new paths, it will create new areas of
open access land so people can freely explore:- headlands, cliffs and beaches,
right up to the water's edge.
Natural England has been working with landowners, local authorities and others
to open up stretches of the path and Ramblers' volunteers have worked tirelessly
to walk and survey swathes of coast, mapping out the best route for walkers.
Nicky added:- "We'd like to thank our wonderful volunteers who have spent
hours exploring possible routes for the path. Using their local knowledge and
thinking with their feet they are helping to ensure that the England Coast Path
is not just a path, but one of the most incredible walking trails in the world."
The Government hope to complete the England Coast Path by 2020, and the Ramblers
is keen to ensure that plans are put in place to maintain the path once it's
complete and has become a National Trail.
To find out more, visit:-
Ramblers.Org.UK/EnglandCoastPath.
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