News archive 2007
Ramblers’ Association give
mixed welcome to draft marine bill, urging ‘coast for most’
clause
The Ramblers’ Association (RA), the national walking charity,
have cautiously welcomed the inclusion of a Draft Marine Bill in
the Queen’s Speech today, but urged that it must be accompanied
by a coastal access clause.
Ramblers’ Association celebrate
two years of the right to roam
The Ramblers Association (RA) chief executive, Tom Franklin, has
praised walkers’ “respect and love for the countryside” on the
2nd anniversary of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act (CROW),
that has seen walkers enjoy 750,000 hectares of open countryside
that was previously forbidden to them.
Conference launches Britain’s first walk-friendly towns network
Britain’s first ever walk-friendly towns’ network has been
launched as a result of the ‘Walkers are Welcome’ inaugural
conference, which took place in Hebden Bridge last
weekend.
National walking charity
welcomes South Downs announcement
The Ramblers’ Association (RA) has welcomed the announcement by
Jonathan Shaw, Minister for Landscape and Rural Affairs today
(25 October 2007), to re-open the South Downs Public Inquiry in
February next year.
Latest on foot and mouth outbreak in
Surrey
The RA has welcomed the latest news from Defra today, that Foot
and Mouth Disease (FMD) movement restrictions have now been
lifted in most parts of the country.
Ramblers’ Association disappointed at judge’s decision to back
BMW
The Ramblers’ Association (RA) has expressed its "severe
disappointment" at the decision of a district judge, Witney, to
allow BMW and Oxfordshire County Council to close a 2000
year-old-path that up to 400 people use every day. They have
criticised BMW’s handling of the case, that turned a
theoretically simple case into an ordeal lasting well over a
week.
New research
shows attitudes to exercise differ among the sexes
New research for the Ramblers' Association (RA) shows that
attitudes to walking differ greatly between the sexes in areas
of high deprivation. The national walking charity will
unveil the research findings at the launch of its flagship
walking for health project Get Walking Keep Walking in
Birmingham on October 10.
Ramblers' Association takes on BMW
over planned Roman Road closure
The RA this week - 8 - 12 October - begins a 'David and Goliath'
style legal battle against BMW in Oxford, who are attempting to
block public access to a 2000 year old footpath that over 400
people use every day.
Latest on FMD outbreak
The Ramblers' Association (RA) has called for the footpath
network to remain open, following fresh outbreaks of foot and mouth
disease at farms in Surrey.
Top walking charity condemns vandalism
of FMD footpath signs
The Ramblers’ Association (RA) today (15 September 2007)
strongly condemned the actions of individuals who are tearing
down closure signs on footpaths around farms affected by the
foot and mouth outbreak in Surrey.
Londoners Gear up for
Walking Weekend
The Ramblers’ Association (RA) is gearing up to show Londoners
why the capital is best seen on foot during London Walking
Weekend (15-16 September).
National walking charity
calls on government to provide new vista of coast
As the public consultation on access to the coast draws to a
close (11 September 2007), the Ramblers’ Association (RA) is
calling on the government to back the 94%* of the population who
want a legal right of access to the coast.
Big funds to get inactive people
walking
The Ramblers' Get Walking Keep Walking project aimed at people
in deprived urban areas who aren't already active enough for
good health is to benefit from a major National Lottery grant to
the Active Travel Consortium.
People of south east are at
risk of being sold short by national park boundary
Once again the people of the South East are in danger of being
sold short by the erroneous view that all areas in a National
Parks have to be identical. The Inspector involved in the South
Downs Inquiry has recommended excluding a large chunk of the Low
Weald to make only the chalk ridges of the Downs a national
park.
Coastal access brings St Ives
top seaside town award
Good quality access for walkers has helped St Ives win The
Guardian's 'Best Seaside Town Award'.
Urgent Call For National Park
Status For South Downs
Walkers from all over the South East are expected to flock to
Harting Down in the South Downs on Sunday July 8 to make the
60th anniversary of the Hobhouse Report, which recommended that
the South Downs be made a national park.
National Walking Charity Wins Victory
For Walkers Everywhere
The RA won a major victory for walkers everywhere in a landmark
House of Lords ruling.
Ramblers call on Gordon Brown
to make coastal access his first gift to the nation
The Ramblers' Association, the national walking charity, is
urging the new leader of the Labour Party to make coastal access
his first gift to the nation, on the eve of the launch of a
public consultation on access to the English coast.
Gyms get the boot as under-40s turn
to walking
It’s official – twenty and thirty-somethings are turning their
backs on the gym in favour of keeping fit in the great outdoors.
New website maps the way
for walkers everywhere
Walkers everywhere can now access a wealth of information at the
click of a mouse as the Ramblers’ Association’s (RA) walk
magazine goes online.
Brighten up your evenings with
summer strolls
Now that long summer nights are here, forget slumping on the
sofa and head for the great outdoors with evening strolls
organised by the Ramblers’ Association.
National charity calls Government's
bluff at Airport Inquiry
The Ramblers' Association will call the government's bluff at
the opening of the Stansted Airport Inquiry (30 May)
Walk your way to a great Bank
Holiday
The Ramblers' Association (RA) is encouraging everyone to enjoy
the great outdoors this weekend, with more than 200 led walks
taking place over the Bank Holiday.
Ramblers say new White
Papers are last chance to save precious landscapes
The government risks destroying some of our most precious
countryside and the benefits to be gained from walking there.
.
National walking charity brings case
to House of Lords
The RA will take its first ever case to the House of Lords on 8
May.
Take up the footpath challenge this
Bank holiday
Forget traffic jams and crowds this May bank Holiday - head for
the great outdoors and join the great push to complete the RA's
Use Your Paths Challenge.
Walkers salute gaoled trespassers
The Ramblers' Association (RA) will pay homage on 21 and 22
April, at the 75th anniversary of the Kinder Scout mass
trespass.
Walkers help map Britain’s bluebells
The Ramblers’ Association (RA) is calling on walkers to help
identify bluebells this spring as part of a Natural History
Museum project to find out how climate change and hybrids are
affecting Britain’s favourite wild flower.
Put a spring in your step with Easter
walks
The Ramblers’ Association (RA) is encouraging everyone to put a
spring in their step this Easter and enjoy the great outdoors,
with more than 200 led walks taking place over the Bank Holiday
weekend.
Lord calls for sea change for
coast
Lord Smith of Finsbury will call for a coastal access corridor
to be implemented in statute, in his keynote address to the
Ramblers' Association's Annual General Meeting in Reading on
Saturday March 31.
City children take big strides to
combat obesity
Children in South London will be engaging with the great
outdoors without leaving the city this month, as a walking
project helps them take strides towards a healthier lifestyle.
Walkers welcome brave proposals for
coastal access
The Ramblers' Association welcomed Natural England's
wide-ranging proposals for improving access to the English coast
but questions the wisdom of relying on local authorities to make
it a reality.
British towns urged to make
walkers welcome
Chairman of the Ramblers’ Association (RA) Kate Ashbrook will
call for a West Yorkshire town to be a nationwide model as it
celebrates achieving a new official ‘Walkers are Welcome’
status.
Outdoor Organisations Call For Coast For
Most
A coalition of Britain’s leading outdoor organisations is
calling for Natural England to recommend ministers to introduce
a permanent, multi-user, right of access around England’s
beautiful coastline. The Natural England board meets in
Sheffield on 21 February to thrash out its policy on coastal
access.
Bring a breath of fresh air to
Valentine’s Day
Can't find enough time to spend with your loved one? A walk in
the countryside could be the perfect way to bring a breath of
fresh air into your relationship this Valentine's Day.
Latest on bird flu
The first ever case of H5N1 in Britain was found at a farm in
Suffolk yesterday. 160,000 turkeys were gassed to contain the
outbreak of bird flu at the Bernard Matthews site near
Lowestoft.
Londoners Get Walking with the
Ramblers
South Londoners have a great opportunity to take the first step
towards a healthier 2007 when the Get Walking Keep Walking
project launches in Peckham this month.