Extending Greensand Ridge Walk & the Gateway at Gamlingay

  • Lead Partner or Organisation: Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity
  • Other Stakeholders: Gamlingay Parish Council
  • Greensand Country Landscape Partnership Themes: Revealing the Greensand Country
  • Forward Plan Themes: Enjoyment and wellbeing
  • National Lottery Heritage Fund Outcomes: More people and a wider range of people have engaged with heritage,People have learnt about heritage,The local area/community will be a better place to live work or visit

Written by: Cliff Andrews

To extend the Greensand Ridge Walk from its current start/ end point outside of the community into the heart of the community at the Gamlingay EcoHub.

To create a ‘gateway’ feature at the Gamlingay EcoHub  to celebrate the start/finish of the Greensand Ridge Walk and Cycleway.

Achievements

The extension of the flagship Greensand Ridge Walk into the heart of the community and the creation of an attractive and informative gateway feature / photo opportunity.

Benefits to People

The project has helped existing walkers have a better start/ finish point of the GSRW and Ride; with the facilities of the Ecohub, the nearby services of the village and an attractive photo-opportunity.

Local residents have benefitted from being better connected to the GSRW and Ride and have greater understanding about Greensand Country.  They also have an attractive outdoor meeting / resting point.

I have enjoyed working with an out-of-county community and being involved in enhancing Bedfordshire’s premier walking route.

Benefits to Heritage & Landscape

The gateway feature includes public art elements and an information board which make the local Greensand heritage better known and understood.

By extending the Greensand Ridge Walk and Ride into the heart of the community, more people are able to access Greensand Country.

Challenges & Lessons Learnt

The biggest challenges were securing all of the necessary funding and balancing the differing views from partners as to what the gateway feature should be.  The shortfall in funding was met from under-spend elsewhere in the programme.  Perseverance and a consensus building approach enabled the project to be completed successfully.

A clear understanding at the start of the project as to where ultimate decision making powers lie would be beneficial.

Quotes

I reiterate the positive comments you have already received about the carved bench. All councillors were appreciative of it and really liked how this project has come to fruition.

-Clerk to Gamlingay Parish Council


Similar Projects