- The first path to be repaired has completed on time at this popular local walking spot
- Funding is secured for the remaining nine paths ensuring improved access to nature for local residents and visitors
- Surveys are ongoing for the next phase of work with the intention to start four more paths in spring 2025
Work to improve the first route at Roseberry Topping from Newton Woods to the summit is now complete. The National Trust and North York Moors National Park Authority have worked in partnership to repair and resurface the path, improve drainage, and restore lost flora to the hillside that had been damaged by erosion and footfall. After seven months of continuous efforts including two helicopter lifts of the heaviest materials, the path has completed on time. In the coming months, the upland grasses will re-establish providing improved natural habitats and reduced scarring, and this is just the beginning.
A series of generous donations and grants from funding bodies totalling around £700,000 ensures all ten paths at Roseberry Topping can now be repaired. The remaining nine paths will have the same considered upgrades, staggered over the coming years, ensuring this iconic feature in the landscape can continue to be enjoyed and appreciated long into the future.
Around 50% of the total funding amount is thanks to grants from National Grid's Landscape Enhancement Initiative (LEI) and Defra’s Farming in Protected Landscapes Scheme. Further sums were awarded by the HF Holidays Pathways Fund – which works to preserve the countryside and maintain special places - and the British Mountaineering Council’s ‘Mend our Mountains’ project. A generous legacy donation left to the National Trust will also go towards the restoration work, along with a grant from the North York Moors National Park Authority.
Gail Buzzard, General Manager for the National Trust said: “Now that the funding is confirmed, the team can work on the next phase of plans and how best to balance our conservation activity with people visiting Roseberry Topping. It’s so good to see the results of the first path and this is just the start. We want to thank visitors for supporting the work at Roseberry Topping by following the diversions and sticking to the paths going forward. We are determined to continue with ongoing opportunities to help local people connect with the nature on their doorstep.”
Commenting on their donation to support the work at Roseberry Topping, Chris Simmonds, CEO of HF Holidays said: “Since 1998, the HF Holidays Pathways Fund has supported the protection and preservation of the countryside landscapes where our guests and members love to walk. Our contribution towards the repairs at Roseberry Topping is the largest Pathways donation to date and will help improve access for walkers and others who enjoy taking time in the outdoors.”
Along with walkers, those who volunteer, giving up their time to help to look after the countryside have welcomed the news. Mike Conlon, British Mountaineering Council (BMC) North East Access & Conservation Volunteer said: “Personally, I think it is important that the BMC as a representative body, is seen to contribute to this work. As happens elsewhere, individuals step off the constructed path, causing erosion to the sides and leaving the path elevated which makes some folk reluctant to use them.”
As the team seeds the last areas of phase one and leaves the site to settle and re-establish, visitors are reminded to stick to the paths to allow the flora to grow. Thoughts are already onto phase two. Currently, surveys are being undertaken around four more paths, to inform and establish the correct approach. If relevant applications are permitted, work could start on these as early as spring 2025.
Joel Brookfield, Director of Recreation and Wellbeing at the North York Moors National Park Authority, said: “I want to thank all those involved in supporting the work at Roseberry, from the approval of the grants to the teams on the ground. National Park and National Trust staff and volunteers help to care for this beauty spot every day and work tirelessly for the benefit of all. Visitors can continue to enjoy their trip to the top and wildlife can slowly move back in and reclaim any lost habitats as repair work evolves.”
Amardeep Malhi, LEI Project Manager at National Grid, said:
“Through the Landscape Enhancement Initiative, National Grid is helping to deliver a positive contribution towards preserving and enhancing the natural beauty, cultural heritage, biodiversity as well as accessibility within England and Wales’s most precious landscapes. We’re really pleased that the funding has supported this important project in the North York Moors National Park that will make this spectacular landscape even more enjoyable to visit.”
Keep up to date with the latest updates at nationaltrust.org.uk/roseberrytopping and if visiting, thank you for sticking to the designated routes and paths.
ENDS
Notes to editors
Contact joanne.parker@nationaltrust.org.uk / 07929 383249 for anything further.
For further details around the project: Roseberry Topping paths | North Yorkshire | National Trust
About the National Trust
The National Trust is an independent conservation charity founded in 1895 by three people: Octavia Hill, Sir Robert Hunter and Hardwicke Rawnsley, who saw the importance of the nation's heritage and open spaces and wanted to preserve them for everyone to enjoy. Today, across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, we continue to look after places so people and nature can thrive.
We care for more than 250,000 hectares of countryside, 780 miles of coastline, 1 million collection items and 500 historic properties, gardens and nature reserves. In 2023/24 we received 25.3 million visitors to our pay for entry sites. The National Trust is for everyone - we were founded for the benefit of the whole nation, and our 5.38 million members, funders and donors, and tens of thousands of volunteers support our work to care for nature, beauty, history for everyone, for ever. Visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk
About the North York Moors National Park
The North York Moors is a beautiful landscape of stunning moorland, ancient woodland and historic sites. Created on 28 November 1952, it became Britain’s sixth national park. Covering an area of 554 square miles (1,436 square kilometres) the National Park has 26 miles of coastline, two national nature reserves, 840 Scheduled Monuments and over 3,000 listed buildings, attracting an estimated 8.4 million visitors a year.
The National Park has two visitor centres, Danby Lodge National Park Centre and Sutton Bank National Park Centre, providing opportunities for cycling, walking, eating, picnicking, shopping, crafts and wildlife-watching. The centre in Danby also houses the Inspired by… gallery, which features regularly changing exhibitions by artists who draw their inspiration from the North York Moors.
The North York Moors National Park Authority works with a wide variety of people to care for this beautiful corner of Yorkshire, providing apprenticeships and volunteering opportunities with nearly 14% of staff being apprentices from local families.
To view other press releases and for further information about the North York Moors National Park, visit www.northyorkmoors.org.uk
About HF Holidays
- Founded in 1913, HF Holidays is Britain’s longest-running co-operative tour operator, with over 111 years of experience in organising walking and activity holidays worldwide
- HF Holidays’ mission is to connect like-minded people through shared outdoor experiences and by choosing them, guests join a community of 48,000+ members who share a passion for the countryside
- Travellers can choose from 260 walking and activity holidays in the UK, Europe, and beyond, all guided by a team of 600 expert volunteer leaders who help build guests’ confidence in exploring the great outdoors
- HF Holidays has a loyal following, with nearly 55,000 guests choosing to travel with the tour operator annually and over 40,000 five-star Feefo reviews
- As a B Corp Certified business, HF Holidays is dedicated to sustainable travel and community-focused initiatives. Since 1998, the HF Holidays Pathways Fund has been raising money to provide assisted holidays and preserve and protect the countryside
- Whether travelling solo or with companions, guests joining an HF Holiday have the opportunity to form meaningful and long-lasting friendships while staying active or discovering a new hobby
HF Holidays contact: hfholidays@wearelotus.co.uk
About the British Mountaineering Council
The British Mountaineering Council is the national representative body that champions the interests of climbers, hill walkers, mountaineers and ski mountaineers in England and Wales. We are a membership organisation and represent over 85,000 members. We are also recognised by government as the national governing body for competition climbing.
The Mend Our Mountains campaign, from the BMC's Access & Conservation Trust (ACT), funds footpath repair and access projects across the UK. From professional path work on England's most popular peaks like Scafell Pike and Roseberry Topping, to outdoor education in the Cotswolds and volunteer footpath repair and conservation work that everyone can get involved with.
The BMC has raised over £1.4 million so far for the Mend Our Mountains Project since it was set up in 2016. That's 50 miles of fragile footpath restored for future generations and 544 miles of upland repaired - the equivalent to over 67,000 double decker buses.