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Walkers remember foot-and-mouth crisis | Walkers remember foot-and-mouth crisis |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Hundreds of walkers have joined a "pilgrimage" in North Yorkshire later, marking a decade since the end of the 2001 foot-and-mouth crisis. | |
The walk marked the 10th anniversary of the reopening of the four-mile footpath between Ripon Cathedral and Fountains Abbey. | |
The path was closed for almost a year in 2001 during the UK's worst foot-and-mouth outbreak in three decades. | The path was closed for almost a year in 2001 during the UK's worst foot-and-mouth outbreak in three decades. |
A service of prayers and carols was held at the end of the walk. | |
'Sense of thanksgiving' | 'Sense of thanksgiving' |
Nearly 6.5m sheep, cattle and pigs were slaughtered in Britain between February 2001 and January 2002 in order to bring the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease under control. | Nearly 6.5m sheep, cattle and pigs were slaughtered in Britain between February 2001 and January 2002 in order to bring the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease under control. |
Footpaths across the country were closed to walkers during the crisis to help stop the spread of the disease, including the route between Ripon Cathedral and Fountains Abbey. | Footpaths across the country were closed to walkers during the crisis to help stop the spread of the disease, including the route between Ripon Cathedral and Fountains Abbey. |
As the foot-and-mouth outbreak came to an end, about 2,000 walkers came together on 26 December 2001 to celebrate the reopening of the path between the two sites. | As the foot-and-mouth outbreak came to an end, about 2,000 walkers came together on 26 December 2001 to celebrate the reopening of the path between the two sites. |
The 2011 Boxing Day pilgrimage was led, as it was a decade ago, by the Bishop of Ripon and Leeds, the Right Reverend John Packer. | |
Bishop Packer said the 2001 walk would be long-remembered by those who took part. | Bishop Packer said the 2001 walk would be long-remembered by those who took part. |
"Ten years ago there was a real sense of celebration among the nearly 2,000 walkers that the countryside was open once again, after months when it felt that things might never return to normal," he said. | "Ten years ago there was a real sense of celebration among the nearly 2,000 walkers that the countryside was open once again, after months when it felt that things might never return to normal," he said. |
"I remember a great sense of thanksgiving as we prayed within the walls of Fountains Abbey for the farming community which had suffered so much loss." | "I remember a great sense of thanksgiving as we prayed within the walls of Fountains Abbey for the farming community which had suffered so much loss." |
The pilgrimage, which began at the West Front of Ripon Cathedral, followed in the footsteps of a group of 12th century Cistercian monks who set off from there on 26 December 1132 to found Fountains Abbey. |