BBC Midlands Today news presenter, Nick Owen opened a new waymarked walking route from Kinver Edge Rock Houses to the village centre, which is hoped to support local traders following the pandemic.
The Kinver Eco Collective, working in partnership with the National Trust and the Parish Council has created the new route from Kinver Edge to encourage visitors at the Rock Houses to venture into the village.
The new waymarkers have been designed by Freya James, a pupil at Brindley Heath Academy, as part of a competition to create a design that would celebrate the countryside and rich heritage of the village.
Freya was joined by other commended students across the school to officially walk the new route alongside Nick Owen, who himself is a resident of Kinver.
Phil Jones, chairman of the Kinver Eco Collective, said: “Numbers to the National Trust’s Kinver Edge has increased significantly during the pandemic and we’re keen to harness the interest in the tourist attraction and wider area to help bring more visitors into the village to enjoy the great cafes, gift shops and amenities on offer - from butchers to bakers.
“The National Trust is a natural partner for the Eco Collective and Kinver and are keen to support the village. They’ve also been sharing their conservation skills with us to help promote greater biodiversity, through planting wildflower verges and creating new wildlife corridors to the neighbouring countryside.”
In support of the Eco Collective’s work, the Parish Council has paid for and helped erect the waymarkers and liaised with local bus service provider, the Green Bus Company, to create a bus stop directly outside the Rock Houses.
Steve Anderson from Kinver Parish Council said: “We’re delighted to be working in partnership to help promote a better long-term future for the village and help the traders following what has been a very difficult time for everyone.”
Mark Talbot from the National Trust added: “We are delighted to have this new path on the site and link up the village to Kinver Edge and we hope everyone enjoys it.”
Pre-pandemic over 60,000 people visit Kinver's historic Rock Houses and Tearooms each year.
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