Members of the local community, invited guests and local Councillors gathered at the notice board in Straiton
A special community celebration took place in Straiton to mark the completion of the upgrading of the Straiton Paths network and the addition of some new paths and wooden sculptures.
Councillor Peter Convery, South Ayrshire Council’s Portfolio Carrier for Sustainability and Environment issues joined local school children, members of the local community and invited guests, and he officially opened the improved network.
The Straiton Paths project was originally developed in 1996 and officially opened by Magnus Magnusson. The Council’s Planning and Transportation Service has provided funding for the newly completed improvements to the paths.
Councillor Peter Convery said: “The Straiton Paths network has proved to be extremely successful and has attracted many thousands of people, including tourists, to the village and the surrounding beautiful countryside. In recent months the paths have been greatly improved, upgraded and two new routes added. New signage, an information board and leaflet have also been produced.
“Pupils from Straiton Primary School have been heavily involved in the project as part of the national “Determined to Succeed” schools initiative, which makes funding available to Pupil Councils to use for the benefit of their school or the community. The pupils have enhanced the Straiton Paths network by commissioning a local wood sculptor to create four wooden animal sculptures that have been positioned on one of the paths.
“I would like to thank everyone involved in the project who has worked so hard to create a wonderful environment that local people and visitors to the area can enjoy.”
The Straiton Primary School pupils commissioned Alan Lees from Kirkmichael, to make wooden sculptures of a fox, an otter, a heron, and an owl. The pupils have also created a leaflet especially for other children that tells the story of the animals and how they have come to be situated on the Lady Hunter Blair walk.
After the official opening ceremony everyone had an opportunity to walk along the Lady Hunter Blair walk, to see the sculptures and enjoy part of the network system.
Further information about the Straiton Paths network can be obtained by logging on to www.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/leisure or by picking up a leaflet from the information paths information noticeboard in Straiton,. The leaflet includes descriptions of all the walks, the distance of each walk and the estimated time it would take to complete it.
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