Plans for a series of new walkways highlighting the heritage of Gedling borough have been given the go ahead.
A network of footpaths and cycle paths around the borough will eventually take visitors around the cultural highlights of the area, including information about some of its most famous residents.
In future, people who come to visit the borough will be able to learn more about the likes of poet Lord Byron, engineer Thomas Hawksley and artist Richard Bonnington.
Ancient monuments and landscapes including the Dumbles and the valley of the River Trent will also be included.
Newstead Abbey will be included in the buildings promoted by the strategy.
It is part of Gedling Borough Council’s new heritage scheme, which was given the green light at the cabinet meeting today.
It is hoped that the increased focus on heritage could attract more tourists to the area, as well as bringing more investment into the borough.
The project has received funding of £75,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund, and has the support of Historic England and Nottinghamshire County Council.
Currently, some of the planned footpaths have not been built, but council bosses hope to be able to connect the existing network of paths.
A new website celebrating the area’s heritage will also be launched in the coming months.
John Clarke is the leader of the council, and said the area had a ‘very rich and important history’.
He said: “We’ve been working with the excellent groups and communities across the borough, who have been involved throughout to make sure we showcase the great people, places and landmarks of Gedling.
“The borough has so much to offer and this heritage strategy signals our long-term ambitions to increase tourism in Gedling and bring in more economic growth.”
Lance Juby is one of the council officers who has worked on the scheme, and said he hopes it will create a ‘greater sense of common ownership of the borough’s heritage.’
He said: “We want to use heritage as a driver for regeneration and investment, and specifically to benefit the more deprived areas of the borough.”
Ha What heritage we are building on everything maybe this walkway can take us past the new Sainsburys or cinema or new housing estates in gedling being built over tolkein’s lands or maybe a new housing estate called the ‘byron estate’ that i’m sure will soon be built on newstead abbey acres if GBC get there way!