BBC newsreader to open new footpath trail

BBC television presenter Michael Buerk will officially open a 154-mile circular walk in Herefordshire next month.

Newsreader Mr Buerk will be the special guest of honour during the launch of Herefordshire Trail, at Ledbury's Tinsmith Gallery, on Monday, June 6, at 11am.

The new footpath, a partnership project between Herefordshire Council, The Hereford Group of the Ramblers' Association and private landowners, links all of the county's five rural market towns in one giant loop.

Under the project overgrowth has been cleared, access improved, bridges repaired and new signs installed.

The trail route was devised by enthusiastic walkers from the Hereford Group of the Ramblers' Association using existing public rights of way.

Herefordshire Trail will also feature in this year's Herefordshire Walking Festival, a two-week event between June 18 - 26. Nine walks from the trail will be used in this year's annual walking festival.

Cllr Brian Wilcox, Cabinet member for Highways and Transportation, said: "We are delighted that Michael Buerk has agreed to officially open the newly created Herefordshire Trail.

"We hope his appearance raises awareness of the trail and encourages more people into the beautiful Herefordshire countryside.

"This project is an example of how partnership groups can work together for the benefit of the whole community."

To help raise the profile of the new trail a 100-page handy guide has been produced and a website launched. The site can be found at http://www.herefordshiretrail.com/.

"The guide, which includes maps, historical information and places to visit, is an excellent accompaniment, " added Cllr Wilcox.

Chairman of Herefordshire Trail, John Wride, added: "Herefordshire is a rural county which relies heavily on tourism as a means of regular income.

"Enhancing and improving our countryside footpaths while making them more accessible to the public will bring benefits in terms of attracting more visitors to the county.

"This is important if Herefordshire is to remain a vibrant and prosperous county.

"The trail is also an opportunity for people to get into parts of the county they may otherwise not have known existed and increase their appreciation of the countryside."