There will be more opportunities than ever to make the most of the Merseyside and Cheshire coastline during the national Festival of Winter Walks*, 26 December – 3 January.
In the last twelve months the Mersey Waterfront programme, which is supported through the Northwest Regional Development Agency, has helped fund and co-ordinate the completion of:
o 10km of new multi-user trail
o 1.5ha of land reclamation
o 15ha improved habitat
“The Festival of Winter Walks is all about highlighting the joys - and health benefits - of walking,” says Sara Wilde, Chair of Mersey Waterfront.
We’ve already played a significant role in providing more walking opportunities right along Mersey Waterfront’s 135km coastline, and are constantly looking at new ways to improve access not just for walkers but also cyclists, horseriders and so on.
I’d really encourage people to get out in the fresh air over the Christmas holidays and rediscover the diverse and beautiful coastline on our doorstep.”
Local residents and visitors can make the most of different locations across Liverpool, Halton, Sefton and Wirral, following improvements implemented through the Mersey Waterfront programme. These include:
· Work is well underway on a key stretch of the Sefton Coastal Footpath at Formby, after much of the original footpath was affected by coastal erosion. The latest phase will be completed by the end of December.
· Seven sites around Runcorn and Widnes are in top condition, thanks to the UK’s first dedicated Waterfront Maintenance Team. One of the sites - Victoria Prom in Widnes – recently became the first promenade in the country to won a Green Flag award from The Civic Trust, an award is usually reserved for green spaces.
· An 8km stretch of The Wirral Way has just been resurfaced. It is the first major resurfacing since Wirral Country Park opened to the public more than 30 years ago.
*The Festival of Winter Walks is the Ramblers’ Association’s annual festival of walks.
