Following on from the success of our pan Wales, Paths to Wellbeing project, we are looking to give communities across Monmouthshire the opportunity to develop the tools and training needed to identify and design new local walking routes and enhance and upgrade existing ones, all with support from Ramblers Cymru and Monmouthshire County Council.

Three communities across Monmouthshire will be selected for development, including free training for volunteers, so if you would like to see access improvements where you live, please email RamblersCymru@ramblers.org.uk and provide the following information:  

• The name of your community;
• A contact address;
• Name of the lead contact for the group and telephone number;
• Approximate number of volunteers likely to get involved;
• A brief description of why this would benefit your community.

The deadline for submissions is the 30th June 2023.

We will work together to help promote access to green spaces for members of your local community to enjoy. By nominating your community, you can be a core part of this exciting project, gaining a vast range of new skills with expert support and guidance from Ramblers Cymru and Monmouthshire Country Council. It will be a great opportunity to bring the community together with activities for everyone to get involved in! We want to see people of all ages and backgrounds getting involved!

Angela Charlton, Director of Ramblers Cymru said: “We want to continue to put walking at the heart of our communities. This is a fantastic opportunity to work in partnership with Monmouthshire County Council at a grass-roots level to ensure everyone can walk and enjoy access to nature and green spaces and the health and wellbeing benefits this brings, in their local area.”

Sara Burch, Monmouthshire’s Cabinet Member for Inclusive and Active Communities said: “Monmouthshire’s rights of way network is an amazing heritage, and an important part of our low-carbon future, as well as attracting visitors from all over the world. But with over 1000 miles of paths we can’t maintain it on our own, it has to be a partnership between Monmouthshire, local communities, walkers and landowners. That’s why this partnership with the Ramblers is so important.  People who have already joined their local paths volunteers groups have got fitter, made new friends and gained new skills, and can be very proud of what they have achieved.”