18 May 2023
More than £14,000 from the Covid-19 Health and Social Recovery Fund has been awarded to
support the refurbishment of a countryside path in St Peter.
La Ruette a la Vioge, which stretches from near Wheatlands golf club to Sandybrook, is the
first project to receive funding from the £750,000 pot that was allocated to the Countryside Access and Wellbeing scheme last year.
Organisations, parishes and landowners can still bid for funding to either create countryside
paths or bring old ones back into use.
The Minister for the Environment, Deputy Jonathan Renouf, said: “On-Island surveys during
the Covid-19 pandemic highlighted the importance Islanders placed on the countryside and
the way it contributed positively to wellbeing and resilience. Covid, despite its isolating nature,
also helped build a feeling of community, and through this fund we want to harness that by
supporting schemes to rejuvenate parts of the countryside. I’m pleased we’re able to support
this repair work at La Ruette a la Vioge.”
Constable Richard Vibert, of St Peter, added: “This particular path, owned by the parish, is
centuries old and runs through farmland near Les Grupiaux. It’s in regular use by parishioners,
and because it’s quite steep has become eroded in places. The path, albeit picturesque, is
narrow, worn away and also overgrown in places. We’re hugely grateful to the committee for
this funding which will help us with our repair work.”
Three other projects have also already been earmarked for grants in the near future. Julia
Clively from Natural Environment should be contacted on 441600 before proceeding with an
application.
gov.je