A much-loved Lake District walk has been repaired by Fix the Fells, thanks to funding from the Government and support from Westmorland and Furness Council.
Visitors to Easedale Tarn in Grasmere may have noticed a team of Fix the Fells rangers working above Stythwaite Steps earlier in the year.
The route between the tarn and the steps is a favourite with walkers. Owing to its popularity, sections of the path had become muddy and eroded, vegetation had disappeared, and loose stone and soil had been washed away.
Since April, four skilled upland path rangers spent over 1,000 hours repairing a 400 metre stretch of the route, at a cost of £34,070, thanks to funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Their work included installing stone drains, creating a durable stone-pitched surface, and forming small pools to slow water flow.
The pools also create habitats for wildlife and have already attracted newts and dragonflies, which is an early sign of success.
Isabel Berry, manager of the Fix the Fells Partnership, said: “This project wouldn’t have been possible without the funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
“Fix the Fells is entirely supported through fundraising, so grants like this make all the difference in tackling some of the most pressing erosion problems in the Lake District National Park.”
Pete Entwistle, Fix the Fells area ranger who led the project, added: “We’re delighted to have completed the work at Stythwaite Steps this year.
“Choosing techniques that work for both the environment and path users is always a challenge, but seeing the immediate positive impact here has been incredibly rewarding.”
