Council commit closer co-operation to foster Shropshire footpaths
Shropshire Council and Shropshire Ramblers met last week to discuss better ways of working together with land owners to maintain public rights of way in Shropshire. Walking is Britain’s most popular outdoor activity by far.
The 5,500km of public rights of way in Shropshire are an important link to the Shropshire countryside and the majority pass through privately owned land. Maintenance of these public footpaths for walkers lies with the Council and private land owners. Shropshire Council and Shropshire Ramblers are keen to see greater co-operation and co-ordination between partners to improve their maintenance.
The Shropshire Way in particular is a series of the best walking routes, as chosen by regular walkers, which were linked up after several partners joined together, including the Ramblers and Shropshire Council. The success of the Shropshire Way project was partly due to the level of co-operation between all involved.
A key component of this is continuing to support and grow the Parish Path Partnerships that exist across the county. Parish Paths Partnerships are groups of volunteers, who are supported by the Council to work at a local level with landowners to keep routes open. The Ramblers in Shropshire have several walking groups, who also belong to a Parish Paths Partnership group in their local areas.
Gwilym Butler, Shropshire Council Cabinet member for leisure, said:
“There is clear enthusiasm for a sustained way of maintaining the public footpaths in Shropshire. The county has many stunning footpaths, but sadly some of these haven’t been looked after as well as they might have been in the past.
“By working together with walkers and landowners, we can see huge improvements in the management of these great assets.
“In an era of reduced resources and budgetary pressures, we’re committed to working even closer with communities and community organisations to help them make the improvements they want locally; this is another example of how we are following through on that commitment.”
Peter Carr, Chairman of the Shropshire Ramblers, said:
“The Ramblers have a long history working with council staff maintaining public rights of way. We hope this accord will help benefit all who enjoy walking in Shropshire.”
Shropshire is home to many promoted walking routes for the public to enjoy, alongside which, the benefits of walking to a person’s health and well-being are proven. Both physical and mental health can be improved drastically when they exercise regularly; walking can be a looked-over source of exercise for many people.
Much of the terrain around Shropshire is ideal to gain the maximum health benefits from walking. The British Heart Foundation states that a slightly more exertive walk – which Shropshire’s undulating terrain naturally provides – is the best way to use walking to improve physical health.
Simultaneously, the high biodiversity value of much of Shropshire’s rural landscape provides an ideal setting to gain maximum benefits for mental health. Studies show that contact with natural environment has a positive effect on mental health. Alongside this, the Department of Health, Mind and the British Heart Foundation have all concluded that regular walking can improve mood and reduce anxiety levels. A person’s risk of suffering clinical depression is also reduced with an active lifestyle.
For anyone interested in walking in Shropshire, you can find routes and information at www.shropshirewalking.co.uk to help you find the right route for you.
