The Heart of Teesdale Landscape Partnership has begun work replacing stiles with gates along the Teesdale Way in a ‘Donate a Gate’ scheme. The first two gates at Gainford have been donated by the Darlington Countrywide Holidays Association & Holiday Fellowship Rambling Group as part of their 80th anniversary celebrations and are now in place!
The Heart of Teesdale Landscape Partnership and the Friends of the North Pennines are working together to roll out the ‘Donate a Gate’ scheme across Teesdale and the wider North Pennines area. The idea behind the scheme is to make the area’s popular footpaths more accessible by replacing awkward stiles with gates, and members of the public are being encouraged to sponsor a gate to make this possible.
The ‘Donate a Gate’ scheme invites members of the public to pay for a stile to be replaced and the new gate fitted with an engraved plaque. This could be in remembrance of a loved one, to commemorate a special occasion or as a gift to someone who loves walking in Teesdale and the North Pennines. Everyone who ‘Donates a Gate’ will be given a choice of the location of the gate (subject to conditions), choose their engraving and receive a personalised map of the area around their gate.
‘This is a really nice way to remember a loved one, and a great scheme that will improve access to this popular route whilst benefiting hundreds of walkers.’ Said Emma Ashton Wickett, Paths for All People Officer.
This scheme forms part of the Partnership’s Paths for All People project that aims to improve the footpaths and bridleways around the Heart of Teesdale area, to make them more suitable and accessible. This includes work on the Teesdale Way and the Greta Walk.
For more information on the scheme please contact Emma Ashton-Wickett on 03000 260645 or emma.ashton@durham.gov.uk , or Friends of the North Pennines on fotnp@hotmail.co.uk.