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Greenlink Berkshire
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The network of community
groups committed to the care of the environment, greener living and
development of the local economy in Berkshire. |
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 Countryside/Access Greenways
and Quiet Roads are two initiatives, currently being promoted by the
Countryside Agency, which aim to give better mobility and access for people
on foot, bike or horseback or for people with disabilities. Greenways are
designed for shared use and largely exclude motorised vehicles. Find out
more on the website at
www.quiet-roads.gov.uk
Try
www.walkit.com if you're looking for pollution-free walks in towns and
cities.
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Campaign to Protect Rural England |
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 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 - Joan Burrow-Newton Tel: 01628 788790
For more information visit
www.cpre.org.uk
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Friends of the Ridgeway |
| Friends of the
Ridgeway campaign for the peaceful
recreational use of the Ridgeway and promote an interest in its history,
geography, flora and fauna. Further information from the Secretary, Peter
Gould on 0117 973 3059. |
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Green Lanes |
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Green Lanes Association
is a non-profitmaking association with the main aim of preventing damage caused
by recreational motor vehicles on unsurfaced highways in the countryside. The 85
miles Berkshire/Oxfordshire Ridgeway has suffered particularly badly from
"off-roaders" costing the old Berkshire County Council thousands of pounds to
repair the damage.
Visit
www.glass-uk.org
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Open Spaces |
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The Open
Spaces Society, the UK's oldest
countryside organisation, campaigns to protect common land, village greens and
open spaces. 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. |
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Parish Paths Initiative |
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The Parish Paths Initiative scheme operates in
West Berkshire and the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead. The project is
also part-funded by the Countryside Agency.
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. |
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Ramblers Association |
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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 |
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Rights of Way |
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In 1987 the Countryside Commission (now Natural
England) decreed that, by the year 2000, the entire Rights of Way network in
England and Wales should be "legally defined, properly maintained, and well
publicised". Rights of Way officers should be working to promote, protect and
improve the network of paths within their areas and making sure they are free of
any obstructions and hindrances. To report a problem you should contact your
local ROW officer located in your council.
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. |
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