CPRE Berkshire campaigns for a more sustainable use of land and resources and, as such, is at the forefront of the fight to oppose the Government's imposition of an extra 70,000 houses in Berkshire by 2016. Stopping urban sprawl over the South East is now the highest priority for the CPRE .

2005 sees the 50th anniversary of the creation of Green Belts around our cities. It is now under threat as never before from current Government policy. Local groups will be active in the campaign to protect our Green Belts from massive house building as developers and speculators prepare to destroy our green countryside on an unprecedented scale.

Contacts: Margaret Cubley, Berkshire Branch Development Officer and Chairman of Cookham and Bisham Branch, Tel: 01628 1SQ

Other Branch Chairmen: Bradfield - Edward Golton, Tel: 01491 671321; Bracknell and Ascot - Robert Bonney: 01344 423880; Newbury and Hungerford - Lady Jeannine Barber, Tel: 01488 668419; Wokingham - Dr Peter Wilford, Tel: 0118 978 4729; Windsor and Maidenhead - vacancy

For more information visit www.cpre.org.uk

Visit www.glass-uk.org

Contact Kate Ashbrook, 25a Bell Street, Henley-on-Thames, Oxon RG9 2BA 01491 573535

Local Voices campaigns to preserve green field sites around Newbury. Contact Janet Griffin on 01635 47437.

A large number of parish councils and several local groups (including the East Berkshire Ramblers and Inkpen Rights of Way Committee) have joined since 1996, when the project came to Berkshire. The objective of PPI is to encourage local people to become involved in looking after and promoting their local paths. Funding for a whole raft of improvement works and promotional material is available to those parish councils and local groups that become members. Some examples are:

• Replacement of stiles with gates or more user-friendly structures (to cater for those with limited mobility, parents with pushchairs etc.).
• Additional clearance of important local routes.
• Waymarking
• Surface and drainage improvements
• Materials for volunteer projects.
• Boardwalks over waterlogged sections of path.
• Parish paths maps.
• Walks and rides leaflets.

A variety of different people can be employed to undertake the work, including:

• Volunteers (tools, training and supervision provided)
• Local contractors
• Farmers and landowners

For more information on The Parish Paths Initiative in your area please contact your Rights of Way Officer in your local council.

The East Berks Ramblers campaigns on improved access on paths in the county and works to encourage landowners, Parish Councils and others to arrive at suitable solutions to problems encountered on the ground. They also co-ordinate a comprehensive programme of walks throughout the year.

Contact: Margaret Welch, Membership Secretary Tel: 01753 662139 

The Mid Berks Ramblers work to protect footpaths in the southeast part of West Berkshire and fight unsuitable development in the countryside. They organise regular walks for members and the public.

Contact: Elizabeth Cuff Tel: 0118 988 2674

The West Berks Ramblers group work to protect rights of way and campaigns for more access to open countryside. Organise walks and working parties. Website: www.wberksramblers.org.uk

Contact: Jane Kiely Tel: 01635 32842

The Berkshire Group promotes rambling and improvement to the footpath network. Organise work parties and reports obstructions.

Contact: Stuart Shurlock Tel: 0118 972 4835

The Pang Valley Group run walks for members and the public and similarly defends the footpath network in the northeast of West Berkshire.Contact: J Banks Tel: 0118 947 3686

Try www.walkit.com if you're looking for pollution-free walks in towns and cities.

West Berkshire: Sallie Jennings, Senior Rights of Way Officer at West Berkshire Council. Tel: 01635 519070

Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead: Anthony Hirst, Chief Rights of Way Officer.

Wokingham: Graham Barnwell, Rights of Way Officer, on 0118 974 6333 for information on the Rights of Way network in Wokingham district.