Chairman of the Ramblers’ Association (RA) Kate Ashbrook will call for a Shropshire town to become a nationwide model as it celebrates achieving a new official ‘Walkers are Welcome’ status next Wednesday, 4th June.
Kate Ashbrook will be a keynote speaker at Wednesday’s launch events in Church Stretton, where she will stress the importance of walking for health, recreation and rural economies.
Her talk will officially open the event at 10.50am, Church Stretton Railway Station.
The fast-growing Walkers are Welcome accreditation scheme was first developed last year in the Yorkshire Pennine community of Hebden Bridge. Since then, six towns have achieved full status and a national network of Walkers Are Welcome communities has been established.
To earn the status, towns have to meet six conditions, including keeping footpaths in good repair, providing facilities for walkers and encouraging and promoting the use of public transport.
Church Stretton and its surrounding hills, including the Long Mynd ridge, in the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty are celebrated walking destinations, branded locally as ‘Little Switzerland’ for their picturesque beamed houses, luscious woods and alpine peaks.
RA chairman Kate Ashbrook said: “The Ramblers’ Association is delighted to see Church Stretton designated as a town which welcomes walkers. Walking is great exercise and, with obesity on the rise, it is more important than ever for people to make walking part of their daily lives. We hope this initiative will be a model for other towns in Britain, encouraging as many people as possible to go for a walk—and encouraging the local authorities to get their paths in good order.”
The Walkers are Welcome status will be formally launched with an all-day free event, from 10am. The schedule includes:
10:00 -11:00 Band, Railway station
10:50 Launch ceremony, Kate Ashbrook, Chairman of the RA
11:20 Networking, Parish Centre, a chance to meet the walk leaders
12:45 Guided walk, Ragleth Hill
12:50 Guided walk, Pole Bank
1:00 Guided walk, Rectory Wood & Allen Coppice Trail
For more information on the Walkers are Welcome initiative visit www.walkersarewelcome.org.uk
For more information and to arrange interviews please contact the RA’s Press Office on 0207 339 8531/8532 or phone Kate Ashbrook (RA chairman) 0777 1655694
