‘Saltscape’ is the unique landscape modified by industry in the Weaver Valley and, in July 2014, it was announced that the Saltscape Partnership had received a grant of £886,500 from the Heritage Lottery Fund to protect, restore and celebrate the salt-making heritage of the area.
As part of the Saltscape Project, FoAM secured £25,000 to develop way-marked trails linking the Anderton Boat Lift with the Lion Salt Works, which would encourage visitors to explore the area and interpret the impact of the salt industry on Anderton Nature Park, Ashton’s and Neumann’s Flashes.
To improve access from the Lion Salt Works along Ollershaw Lane into Neumann’s Flash, we planned to construct a boardwalk spanning the pipelines alongside the Flash, which were owned by chemical company Inovyn. To achieve this, we had to get agreement from Ineos Enterprises to cross their pipelines. Their support has been crucial to the success of the project and the trail was opened by Inovyn’s John Boundy during summer 2016.
The Saltscape Trail comprises a ‘figure of eight’ route (about 6 miles or 10km). It is two circular walks, each about 3 miles or 5km. The Dragonfly Walk starts from Anderton Boat Lift car park and the Orchid Walk from near the Lion salt Works.The project included individual interpretation panels near the Anderton Boat Lift and the Lion Salt Works, at each end of the trail. The project also included oak way-marker posts, finger posts and a leaflet containing a map and walk instructions.
Towards the end of the Saltscape Project, FoAM was successful in securing additional funding which enabled two further interpretation panels to be installed. These depicted the huge impact which the salt industry had on the local environment and particularly the subsidence which had occurred. One panel is situated in Marshall’s Wood and the other is just off Marbury Lane on the bund between Ashton’s and Neumann’s Flash. All work on the project was completed in Ocober 2017, when the panels were installed.
