Walking Environment Update - December 09
News from the Walking Environment Team. (News & Action request - posted 1 December 2009)
Induction training for Walking Environment volunteers The 2007 strategy for rights of way work highlighted the importance of improving the induction and training of our volunteers, and to that end we have started to develop a new training programme. An induction day for new volunteers is a key element of this and several of these events have already been held. We are planning to run at least three more in the current financial year.
To help us assess the best places to hold induction days in 2010 (i.e. locations accessible by the greatest number of new volunteers requiring induction training) we would be grateful if you could let us know the names of any new volunteers requiring induction training and their main areas of interest (i.e. rights of way, urban access issues, access to open country, or countryside issues). The induction days are intended to cater for volunteers working in all aspects of the walking environment but the timetable for each event will be tailored to the participants (so if everyone who attends is a footpath worker then that will be the focus of the day). The main issues to be covered will be:
- A brief history of the Ramblers and its achievements
- Our charitable aims, and an outline of‘Fresh Air, Firm Ground’ (theRamblers strategy for 2008-2013)
- Ramblers structure (How General Council, the Board of Trustees, Areas and Groups, volunteers and staff all work together)
- What Walking Environment volunteers do
- Basics of rights of way law/access law etc. as appropriate
- Ramblers policies
Please can you send details (names; e-mail addresses if available, otherwise postal addresses; area of interest) to Janet Davis, Senior Policy Officer (janet.davis@ramblers.org.uk) by 31 January 2010 at the latest.
Clarification on 500 paths target
Thank you to all those volunteers who have already started to report their path successes, either by email or online here. This feedback is really appreciated and is helping to build a better picture of our work on paths 'on the ground'. Not only is it vital in measuring our progress towards the 500 paths target, but it also helps to identify trends and enables us to better judge the support we can offer to Areas and Groups.
Some volunteers have been in touch to seek clarification on what type of success should be reported. For example, is clearing overgrowth from a stile a Ramblers path success? And, what about a problem reported by the Ramblers, which is later taken up by a parish council?
| Our advice is to report everything that you achieve as a Ramblers volunteer on the path network. If something wouldn't have happened without you, then we want to know about it. Staff will then be in a much better position to provide support, and we can assess which successes will count towards our 500 paths target. |
Thanks again.
New guidance on seeking path casework support
In the coming week we will be emailing all Area and Group Footpath Secretaries with new guidance on seeking casework support from central office. Staff will also be contacting Area Footpath Secretaries by phone, to discuss this and other issues. If you have any queries please get in touch with Adrian Morris, Head of Walking Environment - adrian.morris@ramblers.org.uk 020 7339 8524.
Round-up of Walking Environment items already posted on the Volunteer News section
Coastal Access
Earlier in the month we celebrated the Royal Assent of the Marine and Coastal Access Bill. More information is available here.
Review of maps of open countryside
The first review of maps showing 'access land' provided by the Countryside and Rights of Way (CRoW) Act will soon be underway. We'd like to hear your views on how access to open countryside in England might be improved. More information is available here.
Where You Walk campaign: our walking environment manifesto
We'd like to hear what improvements you would like to see to the walking environment, or any examples of best practice. More information is available here.
