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BW to launch Caledonian canoe trail
DEFRA grant for West
Revamped canal to feature low level access pontoons and new campsites
Midlands park
Sutton Park in the West By Martin nash
Midlands has received a £1m
boost in recognition of its status British Waterways Scotland – in
as one of the UK's most partnership with the Highland
significant parks. The park, in Council, Scottish Natural
Sutton Coldfield, has scooped a Heritage, Forestry Commission
Higher Level Stewardship grant Scotland and the Scottish
from DEFRA worth £954,240 over Canoe Association – has
the next ten years, plus Forestry developed plans for a new
Commission Woodland Grants and 100km (62-mile) canoe trail
additional funding for scheduled from Fort William to Inverness.
ancient monument status from The new Great Glen Canoe
English Heritage. The Higher Trail is designed to capitalise on
Level Stewardship grant will fund the growing canoe tourism It is hoped that the 62-mile trail will attract visitors of all ages
heathland restoration works, market, currently estimated to
countryside restoration in other increase 25 per cent year on £750,000 per annum locally. and composting toilets, and
sensitive areas of the park, year. It will also add to the As well as the canal corridors, dedicated car parking facilities.
proposals for woodland contribution in tourism spend the Caledonian travels through As well as the development
management, improved visitor from the Caledonian Canal, four lochs, including Loch Ness. of an interpretative plan for the
experience and scientific and currently estimated to make up The canoe trail will feature a route, there will also be a
archaeological research. 14 per cent of the total tourism wide range of amenities, such website, a trail map and, it is
spend in the Highlands. as low level access pontoons at hoped, a canoe festival.
Former mine
At present, around 2,500 each of the canal's locks and Subject to funding, the Great
undergoes revamp
paddlers visit the Caledonian bridges, informal campsites Glen Canoe Trail will be
The former Water Haigh coal Canal spending around with open side shelters, fire pits completed by spring 2012.
mine between Woodlesford and
Swillington near Leeds, West
Yorkshire, has been transformed
Westonbirt unveils £10m treetop canopy proposals
into a new woodland park.
Funding for the scheme, which By Pete Hayman
was carried out by Leeds City
Council's parks and countryside Westonbirt – The National
team, was provided by landfill Arboretum near Tetbury,
communities fund Biffaward, Gloucestershire, has unveiled
Green Leeds Limited and the plans to construct a new £10m
Forestry Commission. Work treetop canopy experience.
included the installation of signs The Forestry Commission-
and interpretative panels, a new operated attraction is set to
seating and picnic area along consult with visitors between 24
the edge of the Trans Pennine October and 5 November in
Trail, new footpaths and the order to determine what the
planting of new saplings. canopy experience will be, with
five short-listed options
Trust acquires
including a walkway and a The treetop adventure will be within the popular arboretum
Rushmere Park
rising platform.
The Greensand Trust has In addition to the treetop learning facility, which will by thousands of people
partnered with Central experience, a sustainably- cater a range of lifelong around the region.
Bedfordshire Council to acquire designed Gateway Building will learning schemes, a new plant "With all this support, we aim
Rushmere Park near Leighton be built at the entrance to the propagation centre and to conserve our wonderful
Buzzard. The 210-acre park, Arboretum, which will aim to improved car park facilities. heritage and unrivalled tree
which was formerly owned by provide visitors with an insight Director of the Westonbirt collection and make Westonbirt
the Stockgrove Park Estate, has into the role of the attraction. Project, Miranda Winram, said: the place to find out more
been in private ownership for a The Westonbirt Project will also "Westonbirt is a national about the importance of trees
number of years. feature a new purpose-built treasure – loved and valued in our lives."
18 Read Leisure Opportunities online www.leisureopportunities.com/digital © Cybertrek 2009
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