New festivals page for volunteers

A new section of the Ramblers website has been launched with the aim of collecting together information about forthcoming national festivals and events in which we invite volunteers to participate by organising local walks and other activities. See www.ramblers.org.uk/volunteer/festivals.

In response to requests to announce details of such events as early as possible to help Areas and Groups in devising programmes, we will be posting dates here up to a year in advance.

The page has launched with a new festival for this autumn: A Walk in the Woods Week between Monday 3 and Sunday 9 October 2011. The public outcry over the sale of English forests demonstrated just how much we use and value our local woodland. Join us in celebrating the wonder of all British woodland by organising a woodland walk. It can be any length and travel through any forest or woodland, large or small. More details to follow shortly.

Other dates now confirmed are:

• Festival of Winter Walks
  Saturday 24 December 2011 - Monday 2 January 2012
  Any walk but wintry themes and places that look good in winter preferred.
• Coast for Most Weekend
  Saturday 5 - Sunday 6 May 2012
  Celebrating the launch of the Wales Coastal Path today by inviting Ramblers Areas and Groups across the country to organise walks on a stretch of coastline near them (it doesn't have to be in Wales!)
• Get Walking Weekend / Get Walking for the Games
  Saturday 26 - Sunday 27 May 2012
  Short, easy walks (under 8km/5 miles), preferably accessible without a car, and this year with an Olympic theme if possible.

More information about all these events to follow.