Wells walkers and cyclists are part of the wider Strawberry Line story as access improvements are made to the rural Somerset route. A £30,000 grant from the Mendip Hills National Landscape management team has funded signage, path upgrades and new information to help more people use the route.

The Strawberry Line active travel route currently runs uninterrupted from Yatton railway station to Labourham Way in Cheddar, with the long-term ambition to reach Collett Park in Shepton Mallet. Wells is part of the wider network, with the route's east-of-Wells section towards Dulcote offering links into the Mendip Hills and views back towards Wells Cathedral.

The Strawberry Line follows the route of the former Cheddar Valley railway line, which once ran through Somerset communities including Wells, Cheddar and Shepton Mallet. The railway closed in the mid-1960s as part of the Beeching cuts, but its route has since become the basis for one of the county's best-known walking and cycling projects.

The Strawberry Line Society has been working with Somerset Council and local landowners to deliver the remaining sections of the path. Somerset Council announced in early April that £730,000 would be provided towards the Strawberry Line and other rural routes over the next two years.

The latest £30,000 grant has supported smaller-scale improvements designed to make the route easier to use for both local people and visitors. The work includes improved signage, better promotion of the route and its links to other parts of the Mendip Hills, and repairs and upgrades to improve access for people with restricted mobility.

The funding has also supported school engagement, initially focused on King's Academy in Cheddar, as well as new interpretation boards with maps at key access points. Organisers say the aim is to make the route clearer, safer and more welcoming for a wider range of users.

Mick Fletcher, chairman of the Strawberry Line Society, said: "The access for all funding has helped the Strawberry Line advance considerably this year. It has enabled us to make it easier and safer to use the path and encouraged a wider group of users to explore the countryside including many who may have struggled before.

"The grant has supported our volunteers and enabled us to upgrade our tools to low-carbon rechargeable power tools, and communications to the wider public has also helped hugely. We now have a membership of 450, and in the region 110 active volunteers, covering over 29 miles. I'd like to thank them all personally for delivering this project."

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The Mendip Hills is one of 46 national landscapes across the UK, having originally been designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1972. The Strawberry Line passes through the landscape and is promoted as a way for people to explore the countryside without relying on the car.

Jim Hardcastle, manager of the Mendip Hills National Landscape team, said: "I'm really pleased we've now got the funds from Defra to support important initiatives like the Strawberry Line. It's such a success story for the area, made even more impressive by the fact that so much of it is community-driven.

"We can see how the money has made a real difference and look forward to supporting the Society with a similar grant this year as well."

More information about the Strawberry Line, including volunteering and financial support, is available from the Strawberry Line Society.

Original reporting: Daniel Mumby/LDRS

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