We'll work with the government to improve forest access (17/2/11)

It is a wise decision to drop the forest sell-off consultation, and
start again. The hole would only have got deeper.

With each day that passed, it became clearer that, although ministers
were saying (I believe genuinely) they wanted to protect and improve
access, the proposals had not been properly thought through. Large
amounts of forest access would have been at risk. Ramblers Areas have
been collecting together the lists of woods that could have been at
risk if the proposals had gone through.

The Ramblers has said from the beginning that it's access to forests,
rather than ownership per se, which is most important. We'll work with
the government on how to improve access not only to the 18% of forests
owned by the Forestry Commission, but to the other 82% too.

Tom Franklin
Sent from my iPhone

Ramblers - at the heart of walking
Please visit www.ramblers.org.uk to find out more
The Ramblers? Association is a registered charity (England & Wales no 1093577, Scotland no SC039799) and a company limited by guarantee, registered in England & Wales (no 4458492). Registered office: 2nd floor, Camelford House, 87-90 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TW.

Visit our website at:
www.ramblers.org.uk
www.ramblers.org.uk/scotland
www.ramblers.org.uk/wales

Avon Ramblers concerns at forest proposals (12/2/11)

The level of concern about the government's forests proposals was
evident at the Avon Ramblers AGM today, where the forests issue
dominated discussions. Members were worried that the excellent access
provided by the Forestry Commission -including the high quality forest
tracks that it maintains - would not be guaranteed under the
proposals. I made it clear that the issue for the Ramblers was not
ownership - but access. And unless the current quality of access could
be guaranteed, our message to the government was clear - there should
be no sale. In the forthcoming edition of Walk magazine, we'll be
asking Ramblers members to respond to the government's consultation.
There was solid support for the Ramblers' campaigning on this issue.

Other issues covered at the meeting of 50 members include:

- promoting Ramblers membership to affiliated club members;
- providing shorter walks for newcomers;
- the 'Membership March' promotion, where groups that recruit new
members ronto direct debit will receive the entire first year's
membership subscription to help the group with publicity, campaigning,
etc;

David Waterstone retired as Chair after a 3-year stint, and Tom Ellson
(who is also a trustee) was elected to take over.

Thanks also for a lovely walk to the north of Bristol this morning -
with fantastic views across the estuary.

Tom Franklin
Sent from my iPhone

Ramblers - at the heart of walking
Please visit www.ramblers.org.uk to find out more
The Ramblers? Association is a registered charity (England & Wales no 1093577, Scotland no SC039799) and a company limited by guarantee, registered in England & Wales (no 4458492). Registered office: 2nd floor, Camelford House, 87-90 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TW.

Visit our website at:
www.ramblers.org.uk
www.ramblers.org.uk/scotland
www.ramblers.org.uk/wales

Forestry rethink needs to go further (11/2/11)

Today’s announcement by ministers on forests doesn’t go far enough. 

The government announced today that the planned sale of 15% of the Forestry Commission’s estate has been put on hold until the sale criteria has been reviewed, including a strengthening of protection of public access.

We are pleased that the government’s statement suggests an increased commitment to the protection of access in any normal forestry sale.  However, the announcement doesn’t relate to the consultation which is already underway which could lead to the sale or leasing of all Forestry Commission land.   We remain deeply concerned that the government’s current vision will lead to forbidden forests, where the woodland walk, as we know it, is a thing of the past.  We urge the government to remove the elements of the public bodies bill which give government wide-ranging and unfettered powers to alter the Forestry Commission and call on them review the entire consultation process so that there can be a full and open debate on these issues.

We need to keep the pressure up, and we’ll be circulating to Areas some suggestions for responding to the consultation, next week.  We’ll also be contacting members, via Walk Magazine, to ask them to respond too.

Tom Franklin
Chief Executive
Follow my tweets at http://twitter.com/RamblersTom
Follow my blog for Ramblers volunteers at http://www.ramblers.org.uk/Volunteer/chief+executives+blog

 

The Ramblers’ Association is a registered charity (England & Wales no 1093577, Scotland no SC039799) and a company limited by guarantee, registered in England & Wales (no 4458492). Registered office: 2nd floor, Camelford House, 87-90 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TW.

Visit our website at:

www.ramblers.org.uk
www.ramblers.org.uk/scotland
www.ramblers.org.uk/wales

Open access walks in North Yorkshire (10/2/11)

I’ve just received a copy of the splendid publication by East Yorkshire and Derwent Area, detailing ten open access walks across the Moors and Wolds of East Yorkshire.

It looks a splendid publication.  The walks are beautifully described and illustrated - a great way to promote the use of access land, and open it up to people who might be a bit nervous of leaving the trodden path.  There’s also lots of local detail, covering history and geography.

I’m hoping to be able to join the Area on one of the walks.

Congratulations to Tom Halstead and the team.

Tom Franklin
Chief Executive
Follow my tweets at http://twitter.com/RamblersTom
Follow my blog for Ramblers volunteers at http://www.ramblers.org.uk/Volunteer/chief+executives+blog

 

The Ramblers’ Association is a registered charity (England & Wales no 1093577, Scotland no SC039799) and a company limited by guarantee, registered in England & Wales (no 4458492). Registered office: 2nd floor, Camelford House, 87-90 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TW.

Visit our website at:

www.ramblers.org.uk
www.ramblers.org.uk/scotland
www.ramblers.org.uk/wales

Cumbria: think again on footpath cuts (8/2/11)

I've been in Cumbria today to join local Ramblers groups to protest
against county council proposals to cut the rights of way budget by
one third.

Members from Penrith, Carlisle, and Kendal joined the walk from Orton
- along with press and radio. We were also joined by two
representatives of the Institute of Public Rights of Way and Access
Management (IPROW).
The original proposal was to cut the rights of way budget by 2/3rds.
Thanks to public pressure, this has been scaled back to 1/3rd, which
is a step in the right direction. But we want the council to be under
no illusions about the effect of lopping off hundreds of thousands of
pounds, as still proposed.
Walk leader, Alan Duval, told me that 25 years ago, rights of way in
Cumbria were in pretty bad shape. Thanks to the foresightedness of the
council and its years of investment, they gradually improved to
today's good state. But with such large cuts in the offing, much of
this work could be undone.
Walking tourism is so important to Cumbria. Yes, the local council is
in a difficult situation. But cuts of this scale will be a false
economy.
The council meets next week to decide.

To view the photos from the event, visit our Flikr site from this link:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/46775550@N03/sets/72157626009840416/

Tom Franklin
Sent from my iPhone

Ramblers - at the heart of walking
Please visit http://www.ramblers.org.uk/ to find out more
The Ramblers? Association is a registered charity (England & Wales no 1093577, Scotland no SC039799) and a company limited by guarantee, registered in England & Wales (no 4458492). Registered office: 2nd floor, Camelford House, 87-90 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TW.
Visit our website at:
http://www.ramblers.org.uk/
www.ramblers.org.uk/scotland
www.ramblers.org.uk/wales

March membership - don't forget (7/2/11)

Don’t forget:

Throughout March, for every brand new direct debit member recruited by your Group, we’re passing on the entire first year’s membership fee back to the Group.

What can you use the extra funds for?

Well, we’d prefer you spent the money (unless your reserves are low).  You can spend it on any of our charitable purposes: use it for helping to recruit even more members, or to publicise the Ramblers, or to buy some new promotional displays, or to train volunteers, or to improve your website………...or lots of other things.

All you have to do is :

·       add the code R11G3P on the bottom right of the recruitment forms, and the funds will be allocated to your Group.

·       make sure the completed recruitment forms arrive at central office by 4th April

The extra funds will be sent to Areas during April / early May. Areas will then forward the relevant sum onto each Group.

We aim to end the year with more members than we started. To succeed, we need as many Ramblers Groups as possible to get the message out there promoting Ramblers membership, our huge variety of 38,000 led walks each year, fantastic member benefits, discretionary member discounts and – for many people the most important - our vital work protecting footpaths and the other places people love to walk.

More information, including a briefing sheet, is on the volunteers section of the website: http://www.ramblers.org.uk/Volunteer/News/March+2011+membership+recruitment+initiative+-+reminder

Tom Franklin
Chief Executive
Follow my tweets at http://twitter.com/RamblersTom
Follow my blog for Ramblers volunteers at http://www.ramblers.org.uk/Volunteer/chief+executives+blog

 

The Ramblers’ Association is a registered charity (England & Wales no 1093577, Scotland no SC039799) and a company limited by guarantee, registered in England & Wales (no 4458492). Registered office: 2nd floor, Camelford House, 87-90 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TW.

Visit our website at:

www.ramblers.org.uk
www.ramblers.org.uk/scotland
www.ramblers.org.uk/wales

Cornwall launches Challenge Cup (5/2/11)

I was pleased to attend and speak at the Cornwall Ramblers AGM today,
hosted by Kernow Boots, the 20-30s group. About 60 members came along
(apparently the biggest in years). Four Cornwall Council officers
were also there - including the Director: a testament to the solid
relationship between the council and the Cornwall Ramblers.

Particular points to note:

- Graham Ronan, Cornwall Chair, launched the Cornwall Ramblers
Challenge Cup. This will be awarded to the Group with the highest %
increase in members over the next twelve months.

- The Area has set up REACT - the Ramblers Environmental Action
Clearing Team - to help clear blocked footpaths. The first session had
22 members take part, clearing footpaths blocked for over 30 years,
and it'll be going out monthly, working closely with the council.

- The council has trained Ramblers volunteers to undertake Cropping
and Ploughing Inspections, to a standard where the evidence would be
admissible in court if necessary. Again, an excellent example of
council/Ramblers co-operation.

All told, it was a positive, forward-looking, and fun event. Thanks to
Graham and Sylvia Ronan, Christine James, and others for their
hospitality.

Next week: Avon.

Tom Franklin
Sent from my iPhone

Ramblers - at the heart of walking
Please visit www.ramblers.org.uk to find out more
The Ramblers? Association is a registered charity (England & Wales no 1093577, Scotland no SC039799) and a company limited by guarantee, registered in England & Wales (no 4458492). Registered office: 2nd floor, Camelford House, 87-90 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TW.

Visit our website at:
www.ramblers.org.uk
www.ramblers.org.uk/scotland
www.ramblers.org.uk/wales

Progress in Cornwall for Ramblers (4/2/11)

I'm in Cornwall on a return visit, six months after I was here to launch the Ramblers 'Dead End for Walkers?' campaign to highlight the risk of local authority budget cuts to our national path network. 

At the time, some people suggested we were exagerating the threat. Six months later, with proposed cuts of 100% to staffing in Bolton, 80% to capital spend on the Isle of Wight, 50% to staffing and budgets in Nottinghamshire, and many more to come, it's clear that in many parts of the country our worst fears are being realised.

But here in Cornwall, there's at least some good news.    

Six months ago, I walked two footpaths here with Graham Ronan, Area Chair, and Jack Burling, one of Cornwall's Footpath Secretaries, as well as council rights of way staff.  They were both picked at random - and both were impassable. They were some of the worst footpaths I've walked in Britain - in an area heavily reliant on walking tourism.  After the visit, we wrote to all Cornwall councillors to tell them what we'd found, and I promised to come back six months later to see if there were improvements. 

I'm pleased to report that much progress is being made - through a combination of council action, Ramblers volunteers, and landowner assistance. 

-  Some landowners have been pursuaded to cooperate, removing footpath blockages and putting in drainage. 

-  The council is still in discussions with others, but I'm pleased to see its perseverance. 

-  Both Ramblers volunteers and council staff have been working together at weekends to clear away decades of overgrowth. Last weekend, 22 volunteers were out helping. (Graham has ordered some of the 'Improved by Ramblers Volunteers' plaques, to use on the restored footpaths, to help encourage membership - you can order some too from here: http://www.ramblers.org.uk/Volunteer/News/Tell+walkers+about+your+practical+path+work )

-  It's good to see some local businesses starting to get interested - seeing the potential for walking routes from holiday homes. 

We've fixed a date for me to come back in July for an official opening, by which time we expect the footpaths to be fully usable. We'll be inviting all Cornish councillors, and everyone who's helped, to the opening and celebratory walk. 

There is, of course, so much more to do - here in Cornwall let alone everywhere else. The notoriously unworkable path maintenance prioritisation scheme in Cornwall (Gold, Silver and Bronze grading), has resulted in many Cornish paths falling into disrepair. But I think this case shows what can be achieved through a mixture of pressure, persuasion and graft, and when people work together.  Well done to council staff, Ramblers volunteers, and the farmers and landowners who have helped.

By the way, don't forget to report YOUR footpath successes to help with campaigning, recruitment, and fundraising.   

http://www.ramblers.org.uk/rights_of_way/successes.htm

Tom Franklin

Sent from my iPhone

 

The Ramblers' Association is a registered charity (England & Wales no 1093577, Scotland no SC039799) and a company limited by guarantee, registered in England & Wales (no 4458492). Registered office: 2nd floor, Camelford House, 87-90 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TW.

Visit our website at:

www.ramblers.org.uk
www.ramblers.org.uk/scotland
www.ramblers.org.uk/wales

75th anniversary partner event (2/2/11)

We held a special 75th anniversary event this evening for our national
'partners' - that's other charities, companies, politicians, civil
servants and others who we work closely with. About 200 people
attended, representing about 80 different organisations - many from
the health or environment world. Both our current President, Julia
Bradbury, and one of our previous Presidents, Janet Street Porter,
spoke.

Not far away from our office, where the event was held, MPs were
debating the proposals to sell-off forestry land without access
safeguards being in place. Having spent part of the day meeting with
MPs to express our concerns, it strikes me how much we need to work
closely with others over the current threats to access and footpaths,
and walking promotion work.
I'd be interested to hear if any Areas have organised partner events.
They're a good way to build alliances and do some gentle lobbying.
Tom Franklin
Sent from my iPhone

Ramblers - at the heart of walking
Please visit http://www.ramblers.org.uk/ to find out more
The Ramblers? Association is a registered charity (England & Wales no 1093577, Scotland no SC039799) and a company limited by guarantee, registered in England & Wales (no 4458492). Registered office: 2nd floor, Camelford House, 87-90 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TW.
Visit our website at:
http://www.ramblers.org.uk/
www.ramblers.org.uk/scotland
www.ramblers.org.uk/wales