James Cartlidge attended the launch of Walkers are Welcome in Clare on Friday.
Clare is the first town in West Suffolk (and the second in Suffolk after Shotley) to attain accreditation to Walkers are Welcome, a national charity that, as its name suggests, promotes towns that welcome walkers by meeting criteria concerning information, leaflets, footpath maintenance, publicity etc.
The Clare Walkers Group work started early last year within the trustees of the Country Park but they have now become a separate organisation, working closely with the Park, Town Council, Business Association and Visit Clare; and supported by the Green Access and Public Health teams at Suffolk County Council.
James Cartlidge MP said "I am delighted that with Shotley, and now Clare, South Suffolk boasts the only two Walkers are Welcome locations in the county. It was fantastic to see so many members of the community from Clare, and also the team from Shotley, celebrating the accreditation of Suffolk's smallest town as a special location for those wishing to take advantage of our superb outdoors areas. I hope that this award will encourage individuals from across the country to visit South Suffolk and discover it's natural abundance".