Issue 14, December 2006
In this issue
Hello,
Welcome to the last issue of the Take Action newsletter for 2006. But there's still plenty to do before the year is out! You can vote for footpaths or National Parks as 'icons' of England. Or join our walking forum so you can communicate with fellow walkers throughout 2007 and beyond. Why not support our work by buying Christmas presents for your walking-mad loved ones through the Ramblers shop? And don't forget the annual Festival of Winter Walks - the perfect way to mark the end of the year!
Thank you for supporting our work throughout 2006, we'll be back in 2007 with more bite-sized campaigns.
Happy New Year!
WHAT CAPTURES THE COUNTRYSIDE FOR YOU?
A new project is seeking nominations and votes for the ‘icons’ that best capture the environment. Icons of the environment are those that embrace our natural heritage, species or habitats that we cherish, human ingenuity that showcases integration with the environment or symbols of our increasing efforts to protect the planet.
It is part of a wider initiative to find the icons that best represent England and its culture. Nominations so far include the National Parks, Hedgerows and Oak Trees. Footpaths are in there somewhere too!
By visiting the ICONS website you can vote for the most popular icons, or nominate your own. The final results will be announced in January 2007 and we will keep you posted.
Go to www.icons.org.uk/introduction/partners/ea
BIG STEPS TO CHANGE LIVES
Ramblers Scotland is promoting walking as a partner in Forth Valley Street Sport in Clackmannanshire. Forth Valley Street Sport provides a programme of sport, education and health activities for marginalized sections of society. The target audience are people not currently engaged in Employment, Education or Training.
Its aims are firstly, to give participants an opportunity to participate in activities which promote self-esteem, build confidence and develop motivation and secondly, to support participants to make positive life choices, providing a route out of social exclusion and back into mainstream society.
The project is a partnership with a number of organisations including the Scottish Executive; Clackmannanshire Council; NHS Forth Valley; The Big Issue Foundation; Falkirk Football Club and The Duke of Edinburgh Award. Our contribution is a programme of led walks to give participants an opportunity to experience the physical and mental health benefits of walking in the countryside.
Would you like to volunteer as a Walk Leader? It needn't be a weekly commitment – all we ask it that volunteers commit to leading a minimum of 4 walks over a minimum period of 6 months. Training will be provided.
For more information on getting involved with this exciting new project, contact Kathryn Wortley, Promoting Walking Officer on
01577 861 222 or email kathrynw@scotland.ramblers.org.uk
ENJOY THE MAGIC OF A WINTER WALK
Our Festival of Winter Walks returns this December to take full advantage of the delights of winter walking. There’s nothing nicer than wrapping up warm and heading out into beautiful crisp winter air with friends for an energising walk. That extra mince pie or box of chocolates can be excused away once you’ve been for a stroll to walk it off!
The event is a great launch pad for those who have decided to improve their health and fitness in 2007 and just need a little bit of encouragement.
It’s a great way to meet new friends too, so why not take part in one of many walks organised near you?
Visit www.ramblers.org.uk/winterwalks for details.
AVOID THE CROWDS AND TAKE A TRIP TO THE RAMBLERS SHOP THIS CHRISTMAS!
This Christmas you can help support the Ramblers charitable work by purchasing your walking gifts from our Ramblers Shop. You can get significant discounts whilst we receive generous donations for every purchase you make.
Get up to 36% off Aqua3 Ordnance Survey maps & 10% off Silva compasses, educational products and gifts. You can even choose the exact centre point of your own personalised waterproof map - the places you love don't have to be on (or off) the edge anymore!
Get 15% off the latest digital mapping from Anquet - the cheapest way to get 1:25,000 scale Explorer mapping digitally in the UK. There are 403 new products that completely match (same sheet number & title) OS Explorer paper maps. You can also get all 13 National Parks in Great Britain on one CD ROM for just £16.96!
Visit the Ramblers Shop – online at www.ramblers.org.uk/shop
Why not swap your credit card for the Ramblers Credit Card, in association with the Co-operative Bank. Call 0800 002 006 to apply for a card that supports us every time you spend this Christmas.
And finally, why not give yourself a Christmas present this year? It's your last chance to buy Winter raffle tickets and win up to £5000 cash! Call 020 7339 8511 now!
Stubs must be returned by 19th December.
LAST WORD....
If you would grow great and stately, you must try to walk sedately." Robert Louis Stevenson,
If you've enjoyed these quotes, then why not buy the whole book? Visit www.ramblers.org.uk/companion to find out how to order The Walker's Companion.
