HI, this question is for the Brits who live locally to St. Michael’s, or similar towns in Lancashire:
This is a question regarding the video footage of the paths leading to the bench and the fields (NB's last known movements):
It is quite clear that the canopy of tree limbs hanging down over this walkway have been trimmed. The overhead branches look nicely “squared off” so taller people don’t get smacked in the face as they hike along the trail.
Who is responsible for this excellent Trail Maintenance?
- The adjacent residential property owners to the trail?
- The caravan park owner, or any nearby businesses to the trail?
- “The Town” of St. Michael’s itself (such as a Dept. of Public Works, like in the States)?
- Some other entity, such as a volunteer organization?
These “groundskeepers” are doing a very good job, as it appears there is a clear-cut and recent “squaring off” of the tree limbs, where NB was dog-walking before she disappeared.
I hope that the Lancashire Police interviews these groundskeepers. It might help the investigation to ask them if they saw any suspicious activity the last few weeks, such as:
- People lurking, following and/or observing dog-walkers on their regular hikes.
- People gaining unauthorized access to any secured “out-houses”, sheds, etc. in this area by the river.
- People "cutting through" and using alternative dirt routes through the thickets to go back and forth to the car park.
Groundskeepers often observe and note “strange activity” even before the general public sees it because they know the surrounding land so well.
(JMO)
