As you are aware, the Cheshire Sandstone Ridge is a unique landscape which attracts thousands of visitors every year. You will also be aware that the area has been shortlisted for potential Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) status and that the rigorous designation process continues.

In order to support this process and to provide insights into who visits the Sandstone Ridge and why, the Sandstone Ridge Trust, in partnership with the University of Chester, is undertaking a Visitor Survey during the coming weeks. This project is funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

The Survey:
This will involve two strands of data collection:
1. face-to-face interviews with visitors along the length of the Cheshire Sandstone Ridge will take place during July and August, and
2. an online questionnaire will also be available for completion between July and September.

It is our intention to gather a raft of information examining visitor profiles, usage, behaviour and satisfaction levels of the Cheshire Sandstone Ridge, as well as help in building additional insights on this data. The data will continue to inform management strategies, partnerships and projects which will enhance the visitor experience, whilst identifying opportunities for improvements and engagement with new markets.

'Volunteering Opportunity':
If a small number of individuals are interested in assisting with the Visitor Survey then please contact Derek Bell (our SRT Trustee, who is leading on the Visitor Survey) email: belldek@live.co.uk

Further Information:
WHEN: Proposed dates for interview surveys are: 20/21 July; 14/16/17 August; 24/25/26/28 August. Final dates will be agreed subject to availability of interviewers and weather.

WHAT: Interviewers (working in pairs) will talk to visitors at various locations on the Cheshire Sandstone Ridge, and will assist in the completion of the questionnaire.

TIME COMMITMENT: Volunteer interviewers will be asked to commit to a minimum of a 2-3 hour session on one or more of the dates.

WHERE: proposed locations for conducting the interviews are:

• Frodsham War Memorial, Memorial Park
• Delamere Forest – Barnsbridge car park
• Gresty's Waste car park, Organsdale
• Beeston Castle car park
• Bickerton Hill – Pool Lane car park
• Cheshire Workshops car park, Burwardsley

WHAT NEXT: if you are interested then please contact Derek Bell as soon as possible – email: belldek@live.co.uk