Bold strides for local walkers
Nailsea and District Footpath Group recently received £699 from National Grid’s Community Grant Fund to reprint copies of their popular walking guide, The Nailsea Round, which details local walks and aims to support the quality of life and mental health of its readers.
The guide had been out of print for a while and needed updating. With National Grid’s help, more than 1,000 copies of the revitalised guide were produced and available to buy early in the first Covid lockdown in March 2020.
...many people didn’t know where they could walk safely and legally...
“At that time walking was the only form of exercise many people could undertake, but many people didn’t know where they could walk safely and legally,” said Chairman of the footpath group, Gordon Bennett. “The guide gave access to the countryside for a great many people at a time when they most needed it,” he added.
With pubs and shops shut, the group turned to social media to sell copies, with all proceeds going towards promoting walking in the community. The plan is to use the money to improve footpaths and replace stiles with gates over the next three years, working with the local authority and a local rambling group, which will make the countryside more accessible for more people.
“The grant has made a real difference to our local community and has brought great benefits to a large a number of people, and will continue to do so in the future,” said Gordon. “We would like to thank National Grid. Without the funding this project would not have been possible.”
