POPULAR BURRIDGE PATH RE-OPENS

The first section of the popular lower path along the river’s edge in Burridge Wood, Dulverton is now open thanks to the hard work of Exmoor National Park Authority’s field services team.

The path had to be closed when the heavy snow over winter caused many trees to fall across it and branches to break off into the river. Terry Pittard, manager of the field services team said: It turned out that removing the fallen trees and branches from the lower path was only part of the story. Once we had got them clear it was apparent that the end section of the path has collapsed completely and will need some sort of engineering work before it can be made safe and we are investigating the options for the repair of this.

This means that for the time being, people will not be able to do the circular walk along the lower path, but we have managed to get about 1000 metres open so that they can enjoy walking along the river’s edge again. The middle path through the wood has been open for a while so there’s a circular walk available for those who prefer one.”

The field services team has made clearing the fallen trees from National Park Authority a priority in their work and have completed more than 190 man-days clearing the Rights of Way network of over 100 individual fallen trees, plus tree root-plates and vegetation, which involved covering over 150kms on foot.