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Project Description

The Sustainable Tourism Project was led by BTCV (formerly the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers) and had three main objectives:

• It has run a series of nature conservation based holidays whose aim was to carry out environmental improvements in the Weardale area. This helped to bring tourism revenue into the local economy as well as benefiting the habitats, heritage sites and access routes that they worked on.
• Providing work experience and vocational training for local unemployed people Offering the opportunity to learn skills such as:
  • Health and safety
  • Leadership Skills
  • Heathland management
  • Riverbank restoration
  • Otter holt construction
  • Drystone walling
  • Path construction
  • Administration and business skills
  At the end of their training they were qualified to lead BTCV holidays in the area and across the UK.
• Delivering acreddited conservation training for local people in traditional skills.

Length of Project

Start date: July 2003
End date: March 2008

Project Area

The area that the holidays took place in and the trainees were recruited from was Weardale.

Further work after the project has completed

Groundwork will continue to work with communities in the local area on projects leading on from this Mineral Valleys Project initiative. The woodlands improved through the project will continue to be managed with assistance by Groundwork.

Contact Details

For more information about the Gaunless Valley Visitor Centre contact:
Fran Richardson
BTCV
Stricklandgate House
92 Stricklandgate
Kendal
Cumbria
LA9 4PU

Tel: 01539 742 612
Email: f.richardson@btcv.org.uk