A new walking route in the Dalston is already helping local walkers improve their health.
A section of footpath in Dalston has been improved to create a new obstacle-free circular health walk.
Children from the nearby primary school will be joining members of the local footpath group, the county council countryside ranger and health walkers from the area to launch the new route on April 23 at 10:45 for 11:00.
Photographers and reporters are welcome to come along to St Michael's Primary School playing field, Carlisle Road, Dalston, CA5 7LN.
Cumbria County Council surfaced part of the route near Nestlés and removed barriers near the St Michael's school to make access easier for people with limited mobility. The local walking group, Redspearlands, have worked closely with countryside ranger Geoff Fewkes, to make the improvements a reality on the ground.
Alan Lyne, from Redspearlands, said: "We have donated six wooden waymarker posts that the school children have illustrated - everyone agrees they look fantastic. The local vets and Nestlés have also agreed to sponsor a bench."
The route is included in Carlisle City Council’s "Walking the Way to Health" programme, the health walk group goes out every other Wednesday to take regular exercise. David Nightingale from East Cumbria Countryside Project said: "They are a very sociable group and we are always on the lookout for new routes, this one which now has no barriers, is ideal."
Cumbria County Council funded the path improvements as a demonstration project under the Rights of Way Improvement Plan.
Andrew Coleman, the county council's Countryside Access Manager, said: "It is heartening to see the whole community pull together - we couldn’t have done it without them! Working on routes close to where people live, helping people take exercise as part of their daily routine, is what we want to be doing more of."
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Note
1. For enquiries about this media release, contact Geoff Fewkes on 07789 603253 or Andrew Coleman on 01228 226559. More information about the rangers is available at www.cumbria.gov.uk/roads-transport/countrysideaccess
2. The Carlisle City healthy walks programme is available at http://www.cumbria.gov.uk/roads-transport/countrysideaccess/miles_without_stiles/doorstep_carlisle.asp
3. Find out more about Redspearlands footpath group and health walks at http://www.dalston.org.uk/rfg/index.cfm (external link) or http://www.dalston.org.uk/organisations/redspearlands/redspearlands_footpath_group.cfm (external link)
Media enquiries to Justin Hawkins, Media Officer on 01228 606334