Emma appointed paths officer with Heart of Teesdale Landscape Partnership (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Emma appointed paths officer with Heart of Teesdale Landscape Partnership

5:18pm Friday 22nd March 2013 in News By Stuart Laundy, Reporter (Barnard Castle & Teesdale)

A NEW officer will lead efforts to get more people out and about on Teesdale's extensive network of footpaths and trails.

Emma Ashton-Wickett has been appointed paths officer with the Heart of Teesdale Landscape Partnership, and will be based in Barnard Castle.

Duties will include encouraging landowners, farmers and other countryside groups to improve access to footpaths, bridleways and other routes, such as the Teesdale Way.

Ms Ashton-Wickett trained in countryside management and has considerable experience of rights of way work.

Her first full time post was with Durham County Council, where she covered Teesdale and more recently she has been working with the North York Moors National Park Authority.

She said: “Having worked in Teesdale before, I appreciate its varied beauty, character and special places.

“I enjoy meeting people, getting out and about in the countryside and showing how easy it can be for people to access the landscape on their own doorsteps.

"I am looking forward to taking forward this really interesting and challenging post.”

Mike Ogden, team leader for access and rights of way at Durham County Council, added: “There is an excellent network of public rights of way in the Heart of Teesdale area, and this is a great opportunity to enhance it.”