Latest news with #LandscapesProgramme
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Accessibility improvements made at climbing spot
Improvements have been made to a climbing hotspot in the Peak District to make it more accessible for people with disabilities. Changes at Horseshoe Quarry, near Stoney Middleton in Derbyshire, include the installation of a wheelchair-friendly gate and the removal of boulders from an access path. The work was funded by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs through its Farming in Protected Landscapes Programme. The British Mountaineering Council (BMC) says climbing is a sport which can be adapted to suit people with a wide range of disabilities and has welcomed the improvements. Luke Jamieson, who has cerebral palsy, took up climbing while studying at university and is one of the first to benefit from the improvements at the site. The 25-year-old, from Sheffield, can walk short distances, but his wheelchair helps provide independence. "It's a limiting factor when you've got to consider I might have to have a carer to life my wheelchair over the boulders or help me through the crag," he said. "But with the access we now have here it allows me to come with my friends midweek and have a good session. Jonathan Shields lost the lower part of his left leg in a climbing accident at Curbar in 2019, but is able to continue his hobby thanks to a specially-adapted prosthetic leg. The 58-year-old, from Belper, thinks the improvements to the site are "great". He said: "I'm absolutely in favour of getting disabled people outside. "As incredible as it is to see people with disabilities climbing inside, I think to be able to relate to everybody else in the climbing community is great." The BMC hopes the work at Horseshoe Quarry could be the springboard for similar projects elsewhere. Dominic Oughton, president of the organisation, said: "Climbing is just an amazing thing to do in terms of it being immersive and challenging. "Encouraging so many more people to do that and providing easy access is a great step forward." More than 13 million people visit the Peak District National Park each year, and Phil Mulligan, chief executive, hopes the improvements to accessibility will boost visitor numbers further. "We've made this site fully accessible to anyone with any physical disabilities will find it much easier to get here," he said. "You can come here just for a walk or you can come here for a climb. "You can come here just for nature or to see some wonderful geological features." Follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@ or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. Parking chaos and poo: The price of Mam Tor's fame Work under way to tackle soil erosion at beauty spot Peak District National Park The British Mountaineering Council
BBC News
07-02-2025
- General
- BBC News
Almouth coastal land returned to sea for habitat creation
Agricultural land is being returned to the sea in a scheme funded by the government. The current defences at Buston Links near Alnmouth in Northumberland are being breached to extend the coastal wetlands there. It is hoped it will create extensive tidal mudflats which will attract breeding waders such as redshank, curlew and manager Iain Robson said: "We are just restoring something which has been lost for a very long time." The land is part of the Northumberland Coast National Landscape but owned by Northumberland Estates, which is overseeing the £38,500 cost of the work is mostly funded by the Department of Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) through its Farming in Protected Landscapes Programme. The scheme focuses on the replacement of an old culvert which will enable the creation of extended areas of both saltmarsh and freshwater habitat. Mr Robson said only the "very high tides" will inundate the area."The sea will extend over the area briefly and then will retreat, but that coming and going will create a completely different landscape." A bridleway which forms part of the Northumberland Coast Path will be raised above the flood level. To carry out the work, large machines will be on site during February but access for the public will be maintained. Mr Robson said: "It'll look a bit brown and awful at first, but after a while it'll transform into a lovely bit of really important coastal habitat. "The land is very marginal there so we're not taking it out of food production, we are just returning it to how it was before." Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Send your story ideas here.
