Countryside Officers
Ribble
Coordinator for the Parish Lengthsman Schemes
The Lengthsman scheme is, in essence, the re-incarnation of an old concept;
a locally employed person to maintain roadside verges and drainage,
public open space and pathways. It is a joint venture funded by the Parishes involved,
Lancashire County Council, District Councils and the North West Development Agency.
There are 10 Parish Lengthsman Schemes operating in 28 parishes throughout the County
Access
Ribble Way
A survey has recently been carried out on the access furniture and surface conditions
from the Dolphin Inn, Longton to Elston Lane, Grimsargh and improvements to upgrade
this section have started.
Coastal Way
Survey work has been carried out from the Naze at Freckleton to Banks Lane Warton
and improvements to the footpath surface and way marking will be carried out in
the coming months. Ongoing surveys are also in progress to connect the Coastal
Way from the Ship Inn at Freckleton to the Ribble Link and from there to the
Ribble Way at Penwortham.
Conservation
Management of County owned sites such as Preston Junction Nature Reserve and
Spring Wood Picnic Site, Nr Whalley.
Spring Wood is a site of semi-natural ancient woodland and is a popular location
for locals and visitor’s alike .The Friends of Spring Wood is a voluntary
group formed in 2000 and supports Lancashire County Council’s Countryside
Service in undertaking conservation work at the site. The group has been successful
in obtaining grants from the Lottery Fund and the Local Heritage Initiative.
Projects to date have included an Access for All Trail, Arboretum and a Woodland
Survey to assist in the implementation of a management.
Parish and Community
Assisting schools and local groups with small scale environmental projects
through the Green Partnership Awards in South Ribble and Preston, in partnership
with the District Councils and United Utilities
Working in partnership with the Parish Councils of Hutton and Longton, South
Ribble and Lea and Woodplumpton, Preston, in the employment of two Parish Lengthsman,
Working on behalf of those communities to improve the local environment.
Parish Lengthsman
Friends of Spring Wood