Getting People Walking 2

Parliamentary candidates pledge to break down walking barriers

1 in 5 parliamentary candidates have already signed up to the Ramblers Walking Manifesto, pledging to support among other measures putting walkers at the top of the transport hierarchy and investing in walking schemes that reach everyone. Candidates from across the political spectrum have expressed their support for walking as the best way of enjoying the outdoors and a healthy, accessible and sustainable way of getting around that can help tackle problems such as obesity and climate change. This broad based support illustrates how much walking has climbed the political agenda and if followed after the election by action could herald a new era of walking in Britain.

You can read the manifesto, view the list of candidates endorsing it and find out how you can help at http://www.ramblers.org.uk/Campaigns+Policy/Election10.

(Photo: Ian Britton, www.freefoto.com)

Innovative Westminster project introduces new walkers to green space

Richmond Park, Hampstead Heath, Cambridge and the New Forest were among the places visited in It's my country, an innovative Ramblers pilot project funded by Westminster City Council. With the support of volunteers from the Metropolitan Walkers "hike" Group, we provided a series of easy walks and heritage visits in the countryside and green space in and around London for residents of Harrow Road, one of the borough's most deprived wards, culminating in an overnight trip to the New Forest at the end of March where they met up with Hampshire 20s and 30s Group. The project also worked to give walkers the confidence to explore green space and the countryside on their own. All participants have been offered a free year's membership of the Ramblers.

56 different people came on the walks, 80% of them from a black or ethnic minority background and 70% who would not normally walk for pleasure -- challenging the sometimes-heard view that people from BME backgrounds and deprived inner city areas simply don't want to access the countryside. A core group of participants plan to continue walking together under the Ramblers banner. A short film about the project is currently in production and will be posted online. Read more about the project.

(Photo: Hampton Court by Hassan Kazeme).

OS free map scheme won't fully unleash the benefits of walking

Ramblers have cautiously welcomed a scheme announced on 1 April that makes some Ordnance Survey mapping data free to the public, but are disappointed that standard walkers maps have been left out of the package. Following a consultation earlier this year, the ‘‘OS OpenData’ scheme will make mapping such as the 1:10 000 scale Street View digital street atlas freely available for public use and re-use. But the package doesn't include the familiar 1:25 000 Explorer and 1:50 000 Landranger maps used by most walkers.

Explorer and Landranger were considered for release in the consultation and the Ramblers urged the government to make them available free for reuse online as this would provide the easiest and most effective way to enable keen volunteers to share their walking knowledge with others. But the government apparently lost its nerve when OS raised questions about its ability to maintain quality and the continued availability of nationwide paper maps. This is disappointing, though much of what has been released will still be useful. Read more on our Transport Policy page.

Group Walks Finder walks past milestone

Since our last Getting People Walking newsletter, the Ramblers popular Group Walks Finder has passed a major milestone with the 150,000th walk listed online since it was launched in 2002. The system, which has recently benefitted from much improved mapping, is now used regularly by two thirds of Ramblers Groups and is a great tool for spreading the word about our excellent led walks programme, helping promote walking and attract new people to the organisation. If your Group isn't yet using it, find out how by emailing volunteer@ramblers.org.uk. Check out the new maps at www.ramblers.org.uk/walksfinder.

Still time to join in Get Walking Day 2010

There's still time for Areas and Groups to support the Ramblers flagship walking event, Get Walking Day on 23 May, by organising a short, easy, accessible walk. Walks can also take place the day before, 22 May, and this year the day forms part of our 75th anniversary celebrations. To celebrate, we'll be making limited numbers of one year memberships available to people attending walks at the introductory price of only £1. Find out more about how to participate at www.ramblers.org.uk/volunteer/news, or keep in touch with what's happening on the day itself, with a full list of walks, at www.ramblers.org.uk/getwalkingday.