Friends of the Path

Green Ilminster’s latest project is to improve the Chard-Ilminster Path, so it remains a well-used Active Travel route and green corridor on our doorstep.

Part of the National Cycle Network, the path was built around 2007 mainly on the line of the old Taunton-Chard railway. It also features parts of the Taunton-Chard canal and the WWII Stop Line defences.

It’s a popular traffic-free leisure and commuting route for walkers, families, runners and cyclists. It provides a peaceful, green corridor that many local residents use and remains one of the few traffic-free Active Travel routes in the area. It gives a safe alternative route for cyclists to the dangerous A358, which has 13,500 vehicle movements a day and a 60 mph speed limit.

The Friends clear the path of mud, cut back encroaching vegetation, tackle litter and graffiti, campaign for repairs to the surface where needed and we hope to improve biodiversity along the route.

We now have 45 volunteers and run monthly work parties, on the first Saturday of the month, with occasional midweek sessions. We’re a fun, sociable group with wide interests. Get in touch if you’d like to help us look after the path.

For more information please email path@greenilminster.org.uk or you can join us via the Volunteering page.