……… the Sustrans Connect 2 project!  Which will create and connect more cycling and walking networks in the UK.

Personal reaction to the results

Although I am very disappointed that the Sherwood: Living Legend project did not win (as I live in Nottinghamshire and was helping to promote the bid as reported in the post titled (Vote for Sherwood Forest) I am delighted that the winning project will help to provide resources for a stronger sustainable transport network.

As a cyclist (though been naughty and caught the bus to work the last few months) it is great the see that the Sustrans Connect 2 project will improve local travel in 79 communities by creating new walking and cycling routes for the local journeys we all make every day.

Building Bridges

According to the Sustrans website the project will involve building bridges and crossings over busy roads, rivers and railway lines, resulting sustainably getting people to the places they want to go. Each crossing will link to a network of walking and cycling routes, taking you to your schools, shops, work and green spaces.

In addition to the £50 million of lottery funding, Sustrans have also secured £100 million of funding from the local government. Wow, they have a lot of money to build new bridges. I hope that in addition to connecting these new cycle routes they will also be embarking on a creative and wide marketing campaign encouraging people to use these new cycling and walking paths. If they don’t and the routes are only used by the existing cyclists then it’s not really going to help create a greener and healthier UK, as in order for such new resources to be effective you have to encourage people to use them. The project will be completed over five years and I will keep you updated about their progress.

Don’t forget Sherwood Forest

Whilst the media may end up concentrating on the winning project, it’s important that the public does not forget and also considers the funding requirements of the three projects that did not win the £50m – especially Sherwood Forest!

Without such significant funding, Sherwood Forest could potentially become a complete shadow of the past. The ancient and historic forest is all ready fragmented and suffering due to industrialization. It really needs significant funding and hard work to restore it to its former glory.

Restoring Sherwood’s Ancients Heathlands

I truthfully do not know what the other project partners will be doing to raise money for the areas of Sherwood Forest that they manage or support, however at Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust we will be embarking on a fundraising appeal in 2008 to raise over £350,000 to restore some of Sherwood Forest’s Ancient heathlands. The project will involve undertaking important practical conservation work at two nature reserves (Rainworth and Strawberry Hill Heath) both of which formed part of the original Sherwood Forest.   

Historically, the majority of Sherwood Forest was heathland, not dense oak woodland as many people believe. What’s left of this habitat in the UK represents one fifth of the entire world’s lowland heathland resource, making it extremely important both locally and internationally that remaining heath is properly cared for and that new areas are created to conserve this cherished landscape.

Appeal for funding

Whilst I have tried to limit how many funding appeals that I do via GGG (only cycling to save our seas so far), I am now appealing to GGG readers for your help to support the Restoring Sherwood Forests Ancient Heathlands project.

If you would like further details about how you can help, including through the provision of a donation or creative fundraising please click here for my work email address.

Thank you