Farnworth and Kearsley councillors work to rediscover hidden footpaths

Councillors, Tracey Wilkinson and Paul Sanders, have been working with Bolton Council's Greenspace Officer to restore footpaths which have been disappeared within park spaces.

One of Cllr Wilkinson’s suggestions was to rediscover the footpath leading to Brook Street Park at the side of the Hare and Hounds Pub in Stoneclough, making it more accessible and aesthetically pleasing.

Work has already commenced and more works will also be taking place in other areas of Farnworth and Kearsley in the future.

Cllr Wilkinson said they have so many amazing volunteers in the area and herself and Cllr Sanders wanted to show their support by helping out.

She said: “One of Farnworth and Kearsley First priorities is improving our green spaces.

“We know for many years due to unfortunate cuts areas such as the cutting schedule have reduced dramatically.

“Well, we want to work alongside the council officers to improve our green spaces with the resources we have.

“Cllr Sanders recently met with the Greenspace Officer highlighting his wish list for Farnworth and I emailed them about this particular footpath and looking at other footpaths that have been neglected over the years.

“We have so many amazing volunteers in Kearsley working to better our green space like Sylvia Crossley, Kath Green, Sean Greenhalgh and Graham.

Footpaths before and after they were rediscovered (Image: Cllr Tracey Wilkinson)“Farnworth and Kearsley First want to show our support by doing our bit.

“Cllr Sanders and I aren't strangers to doing our bit in our wards going above and beyond our councillor roles by painting goalposts, barriers and improving footpaths.

“It makes a vast improvement to the green space and if we start taking pride in these areas others will too.

“We've had a great response from residents, and this is just the start.

“The council did the work on this path, and it is something we are passionate about and previously myself and Cllr Sanders have helped to clear other paths but now we have council support so much more could be done in time.”

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Cllr Wilkinson said that there are number of reasons why rediscovering footpaths is important.

She said: “Rediscovering footpaths is important because it improves accessibility for all residents.

"It improves overall appearance, reduces unnecessary footfall on grassed areas which in time would wear and create a new path and it brings positivity and betterment to our towns and we are preserving history, some historic footpaths are now long gone.”

More of the footpath rediscovered (Image: Cllr Tracey Wilkinson)

According to Ramblers, Britain’s Walking Charity, they have searched all of England and Wales with the help of thousands of supporters and found more than 49,000 miles of paths that could be lost forever.

These paths have been added to their online map to help volunteers identify, prioritise and save them.  

Explore the map of lost paths here: www.ramblers.org.uk

If you have a story or something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at chloe.wilson@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on X @chloewjourno.