The Minister for Rural Affairs, Alun Michael, joined the Ramblers' Association and Shropshire Wildlife Trust last week to thank Dennis Nisbet, a veteran RA campaigner, for becoming the first private landowner in the country to dedicate land for public access on foot under section 16 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act.
Accompanying the Minister on a walk through Lurkenhope Wood in Shropshire were local school children, members of the Ramblers' Association, Shropshire Wildlife Trust, The Forestry Commission and Dennis Nisbet.
The walk went through steep woodland offering spectacular views across the valley. The wood is to become a nature reserve managed by Shropshire Wildlife Trust to safeguard its abundant plant life.
Minister for Rural Affairs, Alun Michael, takes to the Shropshire hills with veteran Ramblers campaigner Dennis Nisbet
The dedication for public access in perpetuity will not come into force until autumn 2005 but members of the public are currently welcome to visit the woodland using a public footpath which runs across the top of the wood.
Alun Michael, Minister for Rural Affairs, commented, "When the new freedom to roam comes into effect in Shropshire next year it will bring about a historic shift in the way we can all enjoy the countryside. Not only will large areas of open country become accessible, but thanks to the generosity of landowners like Mr Nisbet woodlands like these, which might otherwise be out of bounds, will be soon be open to visitors for all time."
"Earlier this year I welcomed the first steps taken by the Forestry Commission towards safeguarding access on foot to its land by dedicating three woods in England. I hope other landowners will be inspired to follow."
Dennis Nisbet, said, "I'm very grateful to be able to demonstrate in practical terms my support for the freedom to roam which the Ramblers' Association has sought to achieve through its existence. I hope many more landowners, big and small, will follow my example."
Colin Preston of Shropshire Wildlife Trust said, "Shropshire Wildlife Trust has always encouraged people onto its nature reserves to discover wildlife and Dennis's dedication of his wood both as a nature reserve and for public access is a most generous gesture."
