South West Peak Landscape Partnership Grant Awarded for Boundary Walk

31 March 2020

In these difficult times it is helpful to think of some things that you can look forward to and with that in mind we would like to to share the below news story. We encourage all readers to follow government advice and Stay at Home, Protect Our NHS, Save Lives.

Friends of the Peak District has been awarded a Community Grant of £4,000 from the South West Peak Landscape Partnership and the National Lottery Heritage Fund to develop the Peak District Boundary Walk. The grant will enable the Friends to work with local residents, community groups and businesses to raise awareness of the Boundary Walk and the benefits it brings.

The Peak District Boundary Walk is a 200-mile route around the edge of the Peak District National Park. Five of the 20 stages of the Boundary Walk are in the South West Peak region, stretching from Waterfall to Buxton via Tittesworth Reservoir, Wildboarclough, Bollington and Whaley Bridge. Friends of the Peak District developed the Boundary Walk to encourage people to understand and appreciate the outstanding natural beauty of the Peak District National Park and inspire them to cherish and protect it. Since the launch of the Boundary Walk in 2017 it has been warmly welcomed by walkers.

As part of the grant from the South West Peak Landscape Partnership and the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Friends will engage with local residents and community groups to encourage them to explore the Boundary Walk and enjoy and appreciate their local countryside. The Friends will also connect with local businesses along the route to help them benefit from welcoming walkers to the area. In addition, the project will provide volunteering opportunities for people in the region to get together and gain new skills. Volunteers will help the Friends to monitor and maintain the route and become local ambassadors for the walk.

The Friends are keen to hear from anyone who would like to get involved. Please email olivia.kehoe@friendsofthepeak.org.uk

Commenting on the project, Julie Gough, Friends fundraising & marketing co-ordinator, said: “We’re delighted to be able to develop the Peak District Boundary Walk in the South West Peak. We hope that by getting involved with the project, residents and businesses in the region will feel more connected to the walk and its diverse and unique landscape, and ultimately with their local countryside – learning about it, caring about it and helping to protect it.”

To find out more about the Peak District Boundary Walk, visit www.friendsofthepeak.org.uk/boundary-walk