TEENAGERS from across the district have been taking part in a major project to restore a popular route used by many thousands of walkers every year.

Young people from Haworth, Silsden, Sutton and Cross Hills were among a team which carried out vital work on a pathway leading up Pen-y-ghent, in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

They shovelled tonnes of aggregate onto the worn surface of the path.

And the following day the youngsters returned for a sponsored walk up the mountain, raising £385 for the Three Peaks Project – set-up by the National Park authority to maintain the heavily-used network of paths connecting the famous hills.

The weekend project was organised by Kabeer Bostan, from Mosaic, a venture which raises awareness among young people of the Yorkshire Dales through free training and taster days.

Participants came from communities across the Dales and were brought together by the National Citizenship Service, a scheme which helps 16 and 17-year-olds develop work and life skills while taking on fresh challenges and meeting new friends.

Group member, Bethany McInerny, said: "I think we worked well as a team and everyone stuck together when we were going up Pen-y-ghent."

The young people were joined by Steve Hastie, the authority's Three Peaks area ranger, and Colin Chick,a Pennine Way ranger.

Mr Hastie said: "They worked really hard and most of them said they would like to return to the National Park to do more walking and conservation work – in fact, more than half of them said they would like to go up all three peaks.

"The footpath network comes in for some heavy punishment each year and we rely on the people who generously give their time and money or supply materials to help maintain the paths for everyone's enjoyment."

About 100,000 people a year visit the Yorkshire Three Peaks, which also include Whernside and Ingleborough.

A survey carried out in 1986 by the Institute for Terrestrial Ecology found that the Three Peaks area contained the most severely eroded path network in the UK.

The following year the Three Peaks Project was established and since 2004, management and maintenance of the network has been the responsibility of the rangers.

"The project aims to create a sustainable source of both practical and financial support that will help protect and enhance the area and the rights of way network into the future," said Mr Hastie.

"Since its launch, many of the charities that regularly use the Three Peaks for sponsored events have volunteered to donate money towards the upkeep of the area."

Visit yorkshiredales.org.uk/threepeaks for further details.

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