Access For All at Dove Stone
Greenfield, England, United Kingdom
Aim
To improve access at Binn Green, Dove Stone nature reserve so that all visitors can fully enjoy the stunning scenery and wonderful wildlife.
Our Vision
Our project will enhance the quality of experience for everyone at the Binn Green area of Dove Stone nature reserve. Improvements to the path network and the viewpoint will enable all visitors, especially wheelchair users, people with mobility impairments and parents with pushchairs, to feel welcome and confident about exploring Binn Green.
Improved access will enable all visitors to enjoy this magnificent scenery
Our plan to improve access at Binn Green
- Extend the existing track from Binn Green car park to the viewpoint
- Upgrade and level the existing viewpoint to make it fully accessible
- Resurface the existing track from Binn Green car park to the bird feeding station
- Provide an accessible bench close to the new track to allow everyone to enjoy a close up view of the birds at the feeding station
Binn Green is more than just a car park. Conveniently situated just off the A635, the bird feeding area and panoramic viewpoint are very popular with visitors. If we can raise the funding needed, new paths will allow all our visitors to get out of the car park, drink in the view, get up close to the birds and enjoy the quiet of the woodland.
Our initial target of £10,500 will allow us to carry out the resurfacing work to the tracks to the viewpoint and the bird feeding area, upgrade the viewpoint, and install a new bench allowing more people to enjoy their time at the bird feeding area.
We also have a stretch target of £16,000 which would help us to create a new adventurous path through Pennyworth Plantation, located on the banks of Dove Stone reservoir close to the Ashway Gap picnic area.
We plan to carry out the Binn Green improvements during winter 2016 so they are ready to enjoy in spring 2017.
Dove Stone Nature Reserve
The northern gateway to the Peak District National Park, Dove Stone is just 12 miles from Manchester and within easy reach of Oldham and Huddersfield. More than 220,000 people, from the local community and further afield, visit the reserve each year, drawn by its rugged beauty, breathtaking views and amazing wildlife.
The reserve protects a range of moorland habitats: upland heathland, woodland, blanket bog, flower meadows and open water; and is home to a host of moorland birds such as curlew, golden plover, raven and peregrine. If you want to immerse yourself in the best that nature has to offer and truly feel a part of it, come to Dove Stone.
Dove Stone is owned by United Utilities and managed by them in partnership with the RSPB.
Access is already available for wheelchair users or those who can’t manage steps to the circular trail around Dove Stone Reservoir from the main Dove Stone car park nearby. Please see our webpage and access video for more information:
Photos courtesy of RSPB Images and Miriam Biran
This project successfully funded on 15th December 2016