FOURTEEN tonnes of aggregate, two teams of quarry workers and bucketloads of energy was the winning formula for a durable Family Trail, now complete and ready to enjoy in the Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

In early December, two teams from Greystone and Plymouth Moorcroft Quarries, joined the Tamar Valley AONB to help complete a section of trail in readiness for the launch of the Tamar Trails Centre, Gulworthy, and the celebration of the end of the £7-million Mining Heritage Project.

The teams volunteered for three days, and shifted 14 tonnes of aggregate, delivered courtesy of Bardon Aggregates, down a steep wooded hillside onto the new Family Trail below.

Dave Readman, Tamar Valley volunteering and walking co-ordinator, said: 'The workers rigged an ingenious aerial rope and bucket system, but still had to shovel gravel into buckets and wheelbarrow them to the top of the slope.

'The trail surface is now really durable, and will suffer much less erosion from the elements and walkers.'

The AONB team expressed thanks to everyone who volunteered their time, and in particular to Graham Hicks and Anthony Allday.

Anyone who would like to find out how to volunteer their time should contact Dave Readman on 07792 483669 or email [email protected]">[email protected]

For details of the launch and other activities and events, visit http://www.tamarvalley.org.uk">www.tamarvalley.org.uk and click on Spring Trail Festival.