North Yorkshire woodland footpaths to undergo £165k upgrade

Major upgrades are set to be made to woodland footpaths at Nidd Gorge and Bilton Beck

Footpaths running through popular North Yorkshire woodlands are set to be improved to increase accessibility.

The £165,000 project will create new stone paths at Nidd Gorge and Bilton Beck in Harrogate, replacing wooden boardwalks.

The walkways had suffered from "wet and muddy" conditions, making them tricky to navigate, said the Woodland Trust

The charity added the scheme would "improve the overall woodland experience for all visitors".

New signage will also be added along the routes, including on the southern bank of the River Nidd.

'Cherished resource'

Paul Bunton from the Woodland Trust thanked the FCC Communities Foundation for providing the funding.

He said: "The woodland is a cherished resource for local people and visitors from further afield, however some of the paths do suffer during the wetter months, so the funding from FCC is fantastic news.

"When complete, even more people will be able to enjoy this woodland without having to navigate boggy areas."

The work is due to be completed in late spring, when machinery can be used on drier ground.