The National Trust has converted 32 hectares of former agricultural land in Saltram, Plymouth, into additional public parkland, marking a major expansion of its site there. The new area includes a 2.5km multi-use trail designed for a range of users and funded through Sport England, the National Lottery and the Trust.
Along the route, the Trust has added rest stops and viewpoints overlooking Plymouth, while also connecting the new land with existing paths such as The Dell. According to the Trust, the development is intended to improve access, wellbeing and the experience of visitors using the wider Saltram estate.
Health, access and nature benefits
Saltram general manager Jez McDermott described the opening as a significant moment for both the park and the city, saying the investment should help more people walk, wheel, cycle and spend time outdoors with family. The Trust said the site has also been managed to support biodiversity, including the planting of wildflower hay meadows to create habitats for wildlife.
Further environmental work is planned for the coming winter, when the Trust expects to establish a community forest by planting up to 12,000 trees. The existing country park already receives about one million visits a year, and the Trust expects the enlarged site to bring additional health and wellbeing benefits to local residents. Sport England’s Lisa Dodd-Mayne said access to nature should not be treated as a luxury, particularly in a growing city like Plymouth.
Source: bbc.co.uk
