Use Your Paths Challenge

The Ramblers Association is urging everyone to get involved with the biggest ever walking project in the U.K. The objective of the challenge is for all the public rights of way in England and Wales to be walked and recorded. As individuals or as part of a group, participants are being asked to choose a grid square or squares and simply walk all the public rights of Way in the chosen area. Then go to the website (www.useyourpaths.info) and report what squares you've covered including any problems you've come across such as obstructions, missing signposts etc. These details are passed on to local representatives. You can do all this on the website through clear to use on-line forms and an interactive map. It also allows you to report problems direct to the relevant highway authority. At the heart of the Use Your Paths project is the key message that the rights of way network is an important and valuable resource. After all, 77% of UK adults (about 38 million people) walk for pleasure at least once a month. Much of our path network has been established for hundreds of years and came about as important ways of linking communities. It is vital that the right to use these footpaths is preserved. If you have any questions that are not answered by their website then the Use Your Paths Challenge Team "really do love talking to people about something we feel so passionately about!". You can reach them by emailing challenge@useyourpaths.info or ringing 020 7339 8554. It is interesting to note that this 'challenge' comes at a time when local highway authorities across England and Wales are having to produce a Rights of Way Improvement Plan under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. In Wales this has to be completed by November 2007.

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