Communities in Greater Manchester and the northwest of
England are set to benefit from a new National
River Walk, stretching 21 kilometres or the length
of a half marathon.
This walk is the first of its kind and is part of the
government's manifesto pledge to create nine new
walks, one for each region of England.
As thousands of people across the country step out from
their homes to enjoy walks over the festive
season, this announcement will support better
access to the outdoors for the people of Greater
Manchester.
The Mersey Valley Way will offer a boost for local
businesses by increasing visitor
footfall, complementing wider regeneration work in
the area as part of a plan for national
renewal.
New signage along the route will mark out the Mersey Valley Way
as a National River Walk. A competition to design the new logo
for over 50 local schools and youth groups along the Mersey has
been launched, with a winner to be announced in
February.
The first National River Walk comes as part of a broader effort
to improve access to nature, including at least £17 million this
year to make access more inclusive in our forests, alongside the
announcement of two new National Forests, with a third to follow
next year.
Access Minister
said:
“Nature is a huge source of pride and enjoyment for people across
the country, but too many people struggle to find ways to access
the outdoors.
“We are changing that today, delivering on our manifesto pledge
by launching the first of nine new national river
walks, boosting opportunities to be
in nature and supporting local businesses that line the
routes.
“The Mersey Valley Way offers 21 kilometres of new paths for
people in Manchester and Stockport to explore, be outdoors,
and enjoy the nature on their doorstep.”
John Sanders, Strategy and Development Director at Mersey
Rivers Trust, said:
“Mersey Rivers Trust and its delivery partners are very excited
that the River Mersey has been selected as the first national
River Walk. Over 3 million people live within a 1-hour journey of
the Mersey Valley Way, which is accessible by the Greater
Manchester public transport Bee Network as well as walk, wheel
and cycle routes. Designating the Mersey Valley Way will
encourage more people to access nature as well as enjoy the
health and wellbeing benefits of spending time by the
river”.
The ‘Mersey Valley Way' will have National River Walk status
which brings community engagement benefits, such as guided walks
and opportunities to volunteer on nature recovery work along the
route with pond restoration, invasive species removal, tree
planting and installation of bird, bat and insect boxes all
planned.
Stretches of the existing river path will also be upgraded to
meet accessibility standards for wheelchairs, mobility scooters,
prams, cyclists and horse-riders. Community engagement
is a major aspect of the project, and the River Walk will be
developed in consultation with community representatives and
local businesses to ensure that the
project benefits the local economy and
people.
People on lower incomes, on average, are spending significantly
less time in nature. With around 30,000 low-income households in
Stockport alone, this new River Walk will help people least
likely to access the great outdoors and all of the
health and wellbeing benefits it can offer.
The government recently set out its ambition to recover nature in
the revised Environmental Improvement Plan which sets out how we
will tackle the nature and climate crisis, improve public health,
and support sustainable growth, as well as boosting access to
nature as part of the Plan for Change.
NOTES TO EDITORS
- The Mersey Rivers trust will be the lead delivery partner on
the Mersey Valley Way, working with Stockport Metropolitan
Borough Council, City of Trees, Lancashire Wildlife Trust, The
Conservation Volunteers, Groundwork Greater Manchester and
supported by Manchester City Council and Trafford Metropolitan
Borough Council.
- The next tranche of national river walks will
be identified through competition bids which go live in
2026.
