A LARGE section of the Malvern Hills was opened up to disabled visitors, all thanks to a legacy.
For the first time ever the Disabled Ramblers were able to complete a loop of North Hill to see the views and visit parts of the hills which were once inaccessible by mobility scooter.
Recent improvement works to the surfacing and camber of De Walden Drive, which loops around North and Table Hill, was completed with the support of a legacy.
This legacy was kindly gifted by a keen walker for path improvements on the Malvern Hills.
His wish was to ensure visitors were able to access the hills and make the most of the landscape he loved.
Before the improvement work, the Trampers, a type of mobility scooter the Disabled Ramblers use to explore the countryside, weren’t able to safely navigate the uneven surface and camber of the path.
Beck Baker, community and conservation officer, said: “The difference this legacy has made to people’s lives is huge.
“This gentleman’s support has allowed us to carry out improvements which have opened up a large area of the hills for visitors and local people with disabilities.
“We hope this circular route around De Walden Drive will be used by many more people who may have previously been unable to take in the wide ranging views from here and explore this part of Malvern Hills.”
Donations and gifts left to the Malvern Hills Trust in wills are a crucial source of income and helps the charity to fund the undertaking of projects, including maintaining paths and improving accessibility for local people and visitors.
Other projects might include conserving habitats for butterflies and supporting a dormouse monitoring scheme.
Duncan Bridges, chief executive of MHT, added: “Despite the Malvern Hills being a much-loved landscape and visited by hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, donations and legacies currently form a tiny proportion of our income.”
