The Kington Footpath Scheme, has led to the reopening and refurbishment of many public paths in 16 parishes in north west Herefordshire, celebrates its twentieth anniversary this year.
Peter Newman, a trustee of the Open Spaces Society and one of its Herefordshire representatives, invented the scheme and has led it for the past 20 years.
The project is operated in conjunction with the Open Spaces Society, Herefordshire Council and the Hereford Probation Service.
Mr Newman said: “Over the last 20 years, with the help of offenders on community payback, we have erected about 600 footpath and bridleway signs and 130 waymark posts. We have also installed 600 stiles, 18 footbridges and created 35 ditch crossings. ”
The project also maintains many miles of paths and has cleared overgrown stiles.
Included in the general tasks done by work teams are parts of the Offa’s Dyke and Mortimer Trail.
Mr Newman adds: “It is impossible to say how much money we have saved the local authorities’ path-maintenance budgets over the 20 years, but it must be many thousands of pounds. “