A Saddleworth man has become the first guardian of a section of the Greater Manchester Ringway.
Ed Stacey, from Greenfield, has become a ‘stage guardian’ of the section of the route from Broadbottom to Greenfield.
The 12.1-mile-long (20 km) eighth stage comprises just part of the 186-mile long (300 km) route.
The GM Ringway project team is currently recruiting one or two people to look after each of the 20 stages of the trail.
It’s hoped the voluntary roles will help ensure the ongoing success of the trail for years to come.
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The Stage Guardians are expected to walk their local trail section regularly to identify any improvements or highlight maintenance issues, such as replacing signage.
They will also report any access problems such as overgrown footpaths or broken stiles, as well as temporary obstructions or diversions, according to the Ringway team.
Anyone interested in applying for a Stage Guardian volunteer role should email info@gmringway.org
A former business journalist and published author, Ed recently became the footpath officer for the Tameside Ramblers group, taking up walking just five years ago after retiring from fell running and long-distance running.
The 74-year-old commented: “I never did much walking before 2019, but I really enjoy it now.
“I live close to Greenfield station so the GM Ringway is perfect for me and I feel a real affinity with it.
“I’ve walked five of the 20 stages so far but not sequentially, and my aim is to fill in the gaps and complete it all.
“I plan to walk parts of my stage fairly regularly. I’m really looking forward to this new role.”
The route launched in 2022, and is even longer than the similar London Outer Orbital Path or "LOOP", which is only 150 miles (242 km) long.
Each stage of the Ringway starts and finishes near a public transport stop – in most cases a train station or tram stop.
The full list of all 20 stages can be found on the GM Ringway website.
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GM Ringway project lead Andrew Read said: “Stage Guardians like Ed will play a vital role as our eyes and ears on the trail and ensure that the route is clear and safe for everyone to enjoy.
“We anticipate the volunteers will live fairly locally to their stage and know the area well.
“We also hope the Stage Guardians will build further awareness for their sections of the GM Ringway, perhaps by organising guided walks or promoting the trail and events on social media.”
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