IMPORTANT features linked to the area’s salt landscape are to be conserved and restored as part of a project which has won a major lottery boost.

Groundwork Cheshire, based in Northwich, on behalf of the Saltscape Partnership, has received an £886,500 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund for the Saltscape Project.

Over the next three years the project aims to conserve and restore important features connected to the area’s landscape.

Saltscape also plans to increase awareness and appreciation of the qualities of the area, promote new opportunities for people to access, enjoy and learn about the area’s salt heritage and develop training programmes for the community to develop their heritage skills.

The geology of this part of Cheshire resulted in large salt deposits in the area, which have been used since Roman times.

“This project aims to protect, restore, enhance and manage this special area as one environment, to rebuild local people’s relationship with their land, heritage and history and strive to make the area a better place to work, live and visit,” said Saltscape Partnership chairman Dave Blackburn.

“Using the knowledge and vision of a wide range of local people and organisations, the partnership has developed projects which will bring to life this fascinating story and help to conserve and improve access to many of the features in the area.

“We are extremely pleased that the Heritage Lottery Fund shares our enthusiasm, and is supporting us with this generous grant.”

There will be many opportunities to get involved in and find out more about the salt landscape in and around Northwich, Winsford, Frodsham and Middlewich through conservation work, environment visits and sessions for children and adults, history, archaeology and geology projects, recording and social media projects and the restoring of local features such as the Anderton Boat Lift gate lodges, the swing bridge at Vale Royal Locks and pathways throughout the area.

The provision of training courses will be key to the success of the project, and partner organisations will be providing opportunities for trainees looking for a career in the heritage and conservation fields to learn new skills.