Peak District National Park Mend Our Mountains campaign

Plans to repair two of the Peak District National Park’s most iconic routes have received a boost from generous donations.

The Oglesby Charitable Trust has granted £40,000 to the Mend Our Mountains campaign for path repairs to the Great Ridge, between Mam Tor and Lose Hill.

Meanwhile, mountain bikers raised £468 towards repairs of the Cut Gate bridleway – linking Langsett and Howden reservoirs – when they completed a 31-mile Steel Valley Ride.

The Great Ridge and Cut Gate projects are part of the Mend Our Mountains: Make One Million campaign, led by the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) and involving all UK National Parks.

As part of the campaign, the Peak District National Park has fundraising targets of £140,000 for repairs to the Great Ridge and £70,000 for Cut Gate bridleway.

The Oglesby Charitable Trust supports projects which have a positive social and environmental impact in the north west of England.

Chair of trustees Michael Oglesby CBE DL said: “The Oglesby Charitable Trust has a deep commitment to enhancing and protecting our environment for all communities to enjoy, now and in the future. I am delighted to support this project not only as part of our grant making commitment to environmental projects in the region, but also because of my own family’s enjoyment of this area and desire to see the site preserved for future generations.”

The Steel Valley Ride was held to raise funds for the Steel Valley Project, a countryside management charity in Stocksbridge, working to improve the environment for people and wildlife in the Upper Don area. However, as the route crossed Cut Gate – known as the Bog of Doom – the charity decided to donate a percentage of this year’s entry fees to the Mend Our Mountains campaign.

The Peak District National Park’s fundraising development manager Sarah Slowther said: “We’re thrilled that the Oglesby Trust is supporting the Great Ridge – it’s a fantastic and generous boost to the campaign. It’s great to see people who enjoy the Peak District National Park supporting Mend Our Mountains. A huge thank you also to the Steel Valley Project and everyone who is donating or fundraising for the Peak District Mend Our Mountains projects.

“It’s heart-warming to see people raising money for places that mean so much to them.”

If you enjoy the Peak District National Park, you can donate via:

https://mendmountains.thebmc.co.uk/donations/great-ridge/

https://mendmountains.thebmc.co.uk/donations/cut-gate/