A £3m funding bid could create 550 jobs in a project to improve rural tourism and enhance wildlife. The Sandstone Ridge ECOnet Part-nership (SREP) has submitted a £2m bid for Heritage Lottery funding to support the creation of an ecological corridor between Frodsham and Bickerton. Work on the scheme - which aims to attract thousands of new visitors - is under way following a £200,000 Cheshire County Council grant. An application is also in for £200,000 of Cheshire Rural Recovery money. Bids for a share of the cash are arriving from some of the 400 farm-ers, 1,000 businesses and 40 parishes consulted earlier this year. Frodsham is set to play a pivotal part of the project as the start of the 34-mile long sandstone trail. Consultation followed a feasibility study which estimated the project could create 550 jobs over 20 years. An area with a population of 34,000 people across Helsby, Delamere, Tarporley, Beeston, Peck-forton and Broxton will benefit. Local produce will be promoted, footpaths mapped and cycle and bridle ways improved. Village halls could become mini visitor centres, selling local crafts and teas, and putting on displays and talks. Financial incentives will encourage farmers to manage their land less intensively, diversify and work together. Farms will be encouraged to allow parking on their land and welcome visitors, while there will also be a drive to improve the availability of livery for horses and self-catering accommodation. Lowland, heathland, peatland, woodland and wildflower meadows will be created and restored amid fears existing areas are becoming too isolated to sustain wildlife. Special 'eco-bridges' based on those in Holland, could be built above roads enabling species to move along the corridor. 'It's been a fantastic response,' said development officer Mike Wellman, who is now seeking volunteers to drive the initiative forward. 'Cheshire has got fantastic, untapped potential, but we also have to be sensitive because some communities are happy to be quiet and undisturbed. 'We want to encourage people to enjoy the landscape for what it is. 'Realistically we can't compete with the Lake District or Snowdonia. 'But we can offer a more intimate experience and I think there will be a stage where we advertise the network nationally. 'A lot will depend on the Heritage Lottery bid.' Bracken is now being removed from heathland in Helsby, Bickerton and Bulkeley in conjunction with the National Trust. County councillor Steve Wilkinson, lead member for the project, said: 'I'm pleased the county has been able to put some money in and hopefully we can now drive the project forward.' | 
Article
