Northern Ireland

National Trust appeals to walkers to stick to paths to prevent erosion and damage to wildlife

The National Trust has called on walkers to stick to paths on its properties in a bid to prevent erosion and damage to wildlife
The National Trust has called on walkers to stick to paths on its properties in a bid to prevent erosion and damage to wildlife The National Trust has called on walkers to stick to paths on its properties in a bid to prevent erosion and damage to wildlife

The National Trust has called on walkers to stick to paths on its properties in a bid to prevent erosion and damage to wildlife.

The Trust welcomed more than 210,000 visitors to Divis and the Black Mountain last year, an increase of almost 20 per cent on the previous year, and it is expected that the number will rise as people continue to enjoy the benefits of spending time in nature.

However, the Trust has asked walkers to stick to paths to to allow nature to recover as trail improvement works are completed on Divis and the Black Mountain

Craig Somerville, lead ranger at the Trust, said: "We fully appreciate the benefits that spending time in nature can bring, so it’s wonderful to see so many people enjoying the outdoors this year.

"What people might not realise however, is that stepping off, and then continuing to walk off the path, is starting to erode the landscape at a rapid rate".

He said the Summit Trail has seen a "huge increase in footfall resulting in damage to the path surface, and path `creep' causing erosion to the grass verge as people step off the path".

"Once vegetation is lost through erosion, soil and stone can quickly wash off the mountain," he said.

Mr Somerville added: "We recognise that people are getting fed up with having so many rules to follow, but if we can all play our part by looking after our paths, then we can ensure more people can enjoy them all the year round – and that they can remain open and accessible".