Shropshire town hailed a ‘national model’ as British towns urged to make Walkers Welcome
Chairman of the Ramblers’ Association (RA) Kate Ashbrook has
called for a Shropshire town to become a nationwide model as it
celebrates achieving a new official ‘Walkers are Welcome’
status.
As part of her keynote address at Church Stretton’s Walkers are
Welcome day, 4th June, which launched the town’s new walker
friendly status, Kate Ashbrook stressed the importance of
walking for health, recreation and rural economies.
Kate commented: “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 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.
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