'I'd donate money to preserve city's ancient walls'

On a sunny day in York, crowds of visitors flock to the city centre to enjoy the weather.

Among the many attractions are the medieval walls, which form a two-mile (3.4km) route encircling the city.

Free for the public to access, the walls are estimated to attract up to 2.5 million visitors a year but with high maintenance costs, York City Council is considering installing a "tap to donate" point at Bootham Bar.

The BBC spoke to tourists about what they thought about the concept of "tipping" to walk the walls.

Laura White, from Melbourne, Australia, descends the stone staircase at Bootham Bar, looking for her next clue on a geocaching adventure.

It is her first visit to York, and the UK, for a three-week bucket list trip.

"This is day three of exploring York on foot and I've done various sections of the walls every day," she says.

Hearing about plans for a donation point, Laura agrees it is a "brilliant idea".

"I've noticed as I've visited other places around England all of the museums that are free to enter and I thought that was insane," she admits.

"Where I'm from, you pay to enter absolutely everything, which goes towards the maintenance."

Laura praises the National Railway Museum as an "amazing" free attraction and adds she was more than happy to donate there.

"Otherwise, how are these things going to exist for people like me to come over and enjoy this history?" she says.

The tourist thinks a £5 donation suggestion is reasonable and card access is a necessity.

"A lot of tourists these days are told they don't need cash in the UK and I didn't bring any with me either," Laura says.

"I've been 100% dependent on card until I saw donation points but thankfully they had card tap-ons for donations as well."

David Duncalfe and Ruth Milne came from Robin Hood's Bay and Sowerby for a day out in York.

Although the pair have been to the city before, it is David's first time walking the walls trail and a few years since Ruth explored them.

"It's been absolutely lovely. We tend to just nip in, go to the shops and wander around," Ruth says.

Like Laura, they say they would contribute to conservation efforts.

"It's a fantastic idea because I think people feel obliged to donate anyway and we need it, so why not," Ruth adds.

"I'd absolutely tip the walls every time."

Dan Baxter and Aleksandra Baran are also among the wall explorers, enjoying a first and second time stroll along the medieval structure.

"I think a quid or two would be reasonable," Dan, who likes the idea of a donation point, says.

"Absolutely nothing is free and we want to conserve it."

As well as a card donation point, the council plans to add an interpretation board to showcase behind-the-scenes conservation work.

Bill Hill, from Friends of York Walls, says it is an "under-appreciated service".

"They've got all this work going on but the communication about what they're doing could be made much more interesting to the public," he says.

"The walls have from time to time fallen into disrepair. If they're not looked after they will fall down and parts of them have fallen down in the past.

"They are resting on clay and the clay settles. So if you don't attend to the settling and make sure the cracks are addressed, they will tumble down."

He believes donations from other attractions can raise between £5,000 and £50,000 a year depending on the footfall.

A successful example is the Diocese of York, which raises 80% of its donations from such points.

"It's worth trying to see how it goes," Bill adds.

Officers at York City Council have recommended approving the proposal at a cost of £5,000 and it will be discussed by councillors at a meeting on 25 March.

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