Stacks more to see in the sticks
Date published: 19 May 2011
OLDHAM and Saddleworth will take centre stage in attracting visitors to Greater Manchester’s green and pleasant land after a bumper cash injection.
A project by the Manchester’s Countryside organisation will be relaunched after a £226,000 windfall.
The idea is to help raise our countryside’s profile to compete with well-trodden rural destinations such as the Lakes and Peak District. Organisers are hoping to increase the county’s slice of rural tourism, estimating increased numbers of 70,000 visitors to push total visitor numbers to almost 5.9million by December, 2012.
The money has been pledged through the Rural Development Programme for England Funding (RDPE).
Chairman Jonny Hewitt said: “We will build and showcase the many and varied attractions that exist in the 500 square miles that make up Manchester’s countryside.”
“We will be encouraging national audiences to step outside the cosmopolitan squares and urban style of places like Manchester city centre and discover our rich and diverse countryside.”
Wonderful waterways, lakes, historic villages, walks and cycle trails are awaiting visitors — which bosses say remain relatively untapped.
Organisers will unveil new walking trails and bike loops in Saddleworth at the project’s official launch at Nutters Restaurant in Rochdale on Wednesday.
