A brand new grant scheme launched this year is living up to its name by making its very first funding award to the Northern Viaduct Trust (NVT) in support of its fundraising effort to re-open the route across the top of Smardale Gill Viaduct to the public once more.
An award of £5,000 from the ‘Love Your Landscape’ grant scheme has kicked off the NVT’s fundraising campaign for this spectacular viaduct with its far reaching views across the Westmorland Dales.
The new grant scheme has been created by the Westmorland Dales Landscape Partnership Scheme, itself funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, to fund small scale projects and works that help to connect people with the landscape or to conserve and enhance it.
David Evans, Westmorland Dales Scheme Manager said: “We are delighted to be able to support the repair of this viaduct via our ‘Love Your Landscape’ grant scheme and support the committed group of volunteers at the Northern Viaduct Trust.
“Our hope is that our award will encourage other funders and the general public to support the NVT’s fundraising campaign and restore access across this remarkable structure as soon as possible.
“Our grant scheme is being made available to charities, voluntary and community groups, schools and other organisations in the Westmorland Dales area and I’d encourage anybody with small projects or works in mind to get in touch to see if we can help them too.”
Substantial works need to be undertaken on Smardale Gill Viaduct including the upgrade of handrails across the top of the viaduct and significant repairs to its stonework.
Neil Cleeveley, Chair of Northern Viaduct Trust said: “We were delighted to receive support from the ‘Love Your Landscape’ grant scheme. It has provided a great boost to the Trust and to our fundraising campaign but we still have a long way to go.
“Our priority is to re-open the viaduct to the public as soon as possible. We want to enable access to the environment around Smardale Gill viaduct for more people, particularly those with restricted mobility, by providing an accessible means of exploring the area, including Smardale Nature Reserve.
“We’re a small charity with no regular income, and this is a massive undertaking for us. We will obviously be looking at some of the big heritage funders, but public support will be critical if we are to restore access to this magnificent viaduct. This is why we have launched our fundraising campaign and any amount that people are able to contribute via our website will be most welcome. https://edenviaducts.org.uk/fundraising/”
The Westmorland Dales Landscape Partnership Scheme, which has been funded by a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, aims to engage people in revealing, conserving, enjoying and sustaining the hidden heritage of the Westmorland Dales. More information about the scheme and its ‘Love Your Landscape’ grants programme is available on its website at: www.thewestmorlanddales.org.uk
