Published: 18/08/2015
Cycle Relay to Launch Copeland’s New Interpretation Boards
Release date: August 17, 2015. For immediate release
Local communities, councillors and partnership organisations are gearing up to celebrate the newly installed interpretation boards by cycling 49 miles along Copeland’s coast next Wednesday.
The first cyclist will leave Millom at 10am on Wednesday 26 August before passing on the baton to the next rider at Haverigg. The handover will be repeated all along the coast until the final cyclist reaches Lowca at approximately 4.25pm. The public are welcome to attend to cheer on the incoming cyclist(s) and send the next cyclist(s) on their way.
The interpretation boards provide historical and coastal facts, rubbing discs and audio soundtracks. In developing the new boards, the council consulted local communities and asked for stories they felt were important to share with Copeland’s coastal visitors.
Support was received from various individuals and organisations including; Cumbrian Railway Association, Millom Discovery Centre, the Beacon Museum, Whitehaven News and the North West Evening Mail, who all kindly permitted the use of old photographs. Cumbria Wildlife Trust, alongside volunteers helped to identify key species along the coastline. Romar Workwear will be providing high-vis vests for the cyclists.
Funding for the project has been sourced from the Heritage Lottery Fund, North & West Cumbria FLAG, Copeland Borough Council and Natural England, who have been working alongside the coastal communities to highlight the rich and diverse heritage that has helped shape the borough today.
Hugh Branney, Chair of Copeland Coastal Initiative Project Board, said: “It will be a fantastic day along the coast celebrating the achievements of the local communities and cheering on our local cyclists whilst learning about Copeland’s diverse coastal heritage. We would like to thank the local community partners, funders and local volunteers for all their hard work and enthusiasm for this project.”
Ends
European Fisheries Fund
Notes for editors
The cyclists (and approximate start times) are:
10.00 Millom – Haverigg 2.0 miles Andy Deacon (Duddon Estuary Partnership)
10.15 Haverigg – Silecroft 4.4 miles Nigel Gilligan (Millom resident)
10.50 Silecroft – Bootle 7.7 miles Cllr Wayne Ruddy (Millom Town Council)
11.50 Bootle – Ravenglass 8.4 miles Ralf Bidder (Ravenglass resident)
12.50 Ravenglass – Drigg 4.9 miles Gary Creaser (Drigg resident)
13.30 Drigg – Seascale 3.6 miles Cllr Keith Hitchen (Drigg PC & CBC)
13.55 Seascale – St Bees 10.4 miles Graham Worsnop (Seascale & Cumbrian Railway Association)
Gary, Keith and Graham will also be joined by Natural England Volunteer John Osborne who will cycle from Ravenglass to St Bees to highlight the stretch of Coast recently designated within the Marine Conservation Zone.
15.10 St Bees – Whitehaven 4.9 miles John Messenger (Whitehaven Harbour Youth Project).
The stretch of coast from St Bees to Whitehaven is also known as the Colourful Coast and John will be joined by Chris Gommersall the National Trust Colourful Coast Ranger.
15.55 Whitehaven – Parton 1.5 miles Charlotte & Paul Crooks (Whitehaven & FLAG)
16.15 Parton – Lowca 2.5 miles Isaac Madrick (Parton resident)
- People are welcome to join the cyclists at any stage, but the route is neither traffic free nor marshalled and therefore any cyclist joining the relay will be doing so at their own risk.
