Accessing the Sherbourne Valley

As part of The Sherbourne Valley Project, we are improving access throughout the Sherbourne Valley. This will cover the whole project area, but will focus most heavily on our key sites for activities and events.

Improving access will help people develop a connection to nature which is beneficial to their wellbeing, as well as improving their quality of life. It does however have more potential benefits, allowing people to learn about the history and built heritage along the river.

Throughout the project, we will be working to:

Improve physical access such as path surfaces and gates in Lake View Park and Grayswood, and Charterhouse Heritage Park.
Create new spaces for education and community activities along the river corridor, at Grayswood, or lowering banks for easier access to the water on the river or its tributaries.
Improve way marking and signage along the proposed River Ramble routes.
Use digital methods to widen the access where physical barriers cannot be overcome in certain locations, such as the digital copy of the culverted section in the city centre.
Add benches and seating for people with reduced ability to walk or stand as well as to increase dwelling opportunities, such as using the river during your lunchbreak.
Provide equipment for volunteers attending our work parties, and working with The Outdoor Guide Foundation to supply waterproofs and wellies to state primary schools in Coventry.

Grayswood

An example of some of the accessibility improvements the project has completed so far, is the work done in Grayswood, which is a wooded area of Lake View Park. An education/activity area was cleared in the middle of the wood, which is now occupied by a makeshift fire area.

Pathways throughout the wood were also cleared and laid with gravel to improve access. The work took three days, and was carried out by around 30 volunteers from National Highways, the Carnell Group and The Sherbourne Valley Project. Below you can see a before and after of the pathway that was cleared. You can read more about this access project here.