A special thank you to all volunteers who were involved in our Festival of Winter Walks last year, which we held in partnership with Nature Valley. It was yet again a huge success, with more than 880 walks across the country and over 15,500 participants.
This year’s event will kick off on Christmas Day and finish on 2nd January 2011. For those new to organising a festival walk, the aim of the festival is to provide a nationwide selection of walks between Christmas and New Year which appeal to non-members as much as members. The festival is part of the Ramblers’ commitment to promote walking and we would particularly encourage Areas and Groups to see this as a real recruitment opportunity. Themed walks are the single best way to promote our walks to the public; they are interesting, people-friendly, and the media like to cover them.
How to take part and submit your walks
The advance notice of walks is vital to enable the Media Team to ensure good media coverage. If possible, please submit your walks by 30th September 2010, or we’ll miss the deadline for the December issue of many monthly magazines.
The Group Walks Finder will act as the central database for all Festival walks so it is essential that your Group enters your walks on the system. The majority of Groups now use the Group Walks Finder and, unlike in previous years, paper submission forms are not being provided. For support in using the Group Walks Finder, including start-up help, email volunteer@ramblers.org.uk
All walks listed on the Walks Finder between 25 Dec 2010 and 2 Jan 2011 will automatically be classified as Festival walks; there is no special code to include.
Publicity materials
Discounted membership forms will be available and they will offer 20% off the usual cost of membership. Please remember to order them from us and ensure your walks leaders have a supply – it’s a great incentive for newcomers to join the Ramblers after attending a festival walk. You can also order Festival poster blanks (A4) and A5 flyers – all materials can be ordered from Mariusz Wilczynski - mariusz.wilczynski@ramblers.org.uk or 020 7339 8536
Publicity
All festival walks will be listed on the Group Walks Finder and on our website www.ramblers.org.uk/winterwalks
Ramblers’ Press Office will be sending press releases to all national and regional papers and magazines. You may also want to send your own local press release with details of festival walks in your area (for help on how to do this, or to be sent a sample press release, please contact our Press Office on 020 7339 8531/8532).
If your Area/Group has its own website, we would really appreciate it if the festival could be promoted on your home page with a direct link to www.ramblers.org.uk/winterwalks. The festival logo is available on request.
If you have any queries with regards to the event please contact Mariusz Wilczynski at central office – mariusz.wilczynski@ramblers.org.uk or 020 7339 8536.
