MORE than 20,000 long-distance walkers, cyclists and riders complete the 160km South Downs Way every year and many more will explore a section of it.

Some do it for pleasure, others for the challenge and many to raise money for charity.

A new donation scheme for the trail will see 80 per cent of money received being used to directly fund improvements to the trail.

The remaining 20 per cent will be used to support the trail website, where around 140,000 people go every year to find free and independent information on how to access the trail, how to break it up into sections and where to stay.

The website is not publicly funded.

South Downs Way manager Andy Gattiker, said: “We have around 15 thousand pairs of boots, 10,000 tyres and 800 hooves travelling the length of the trail each year.

“That’s a lot of wear and tear.

“We’re so proud that it’s not just one of the best known trails in the country but that people use their experience of it to raise tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of pounds each year for causes ranging from reducing international poverty to beating heart disease or supporting their local hospice.

“We work hard to keep the South Downs Way in good condition and have lots of ideas for projects to improve it – for example, we’d love to install more location specific signposts, put in more drinking water taps and manage more path verges for wildflowers. If everyone who used the trail gave just £1 we could be even more ambitious.”

To make a donation towards the South Downs Way go to www.nat ionaltrail.co.uk/south-downs-way/donate