Celebrating a decade of Open Access

Posted by Catherine Flitcroft on 23/09/2014
Andy Cave with Cath Flitcroft (BMC access & conservation policy officer) and Andrew Jones (senior lecturer at Sheffield Hallam)
View 1 of 2

A decade after access land in the Peak District National Park was doubled in size for lovers of the great outdoors, organisations came together to celebrate the Countryside & Rights of Way Act.

On 19 September 2004, the public’s right of access grew from 240 sq km to more than 500 sq km in the Peak District, opening up a new world to be explored inside Britain’s first national park.

The freedom to roam brought large parts of the Peak District’s wilder landscape within reach of walkers, climbers, runners and wildlife enthusiasts, allowing visitors to wander at will without keeping to public paths.

On 19 September 2014, to mark the 10th anniversary of the implementation of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act, a joint event with the Peak District National Park, BMC and Ramblers was held at the Moorland Discovery Centre at Longshaw. This included a walk across open access land, with speakers talking about what a decade of change has meant to them and how they have been inspired.

The walk was led by leading British climber Andy Cave and other speakers included access campaigner Terry Howard, landscape and wildlife photographer Alex Hyde, author Roly Smith and Lynn Crowe, professor of environmental management at Sheffield Hallam University.

Councillor Andrew McCloy, chair of the park’s audit, resources and performance committee and chair of the local access forum at the time, said: “It is an incredibly important piece of access legislation and we are very proud of what it has meant.

“It has given people confidence when they go on to the moors and a sense of freedom to explore. There is a feeling of freedom in the wilder parts of the national park that you don’t always get if you follow a well-worn path.

“The important thing is to make people aware that it is there for them. And it doesn’t always have to mean walking through a wilderness, you can use it to relax by a stream or enjoy a family picnic.”

The event also saw the launch of the national park authority’s access fund, which aims to raise money through donations and initiatives to further improve access in the future.

Sue Smith, the national park’s access officer, said: “This is about looking after our access areas and making them more accessible. Any money raised will go towards projects such as replacing stiles with wicket gates, dedicating new areas of access or creating concession paths with the agreement of landowners to open up even more of the park.

“By working together we can do much more.”



« Back

Post a comment Print this article

This article has been read 1433 times

TAGS

Click on the tags to explore more

RELATED ARTICLES

Active Outdoors: subsidised skills courses
1
Active Outdoors: subsidised skills courses

It is time to Get Active Outdoors. If you want to start hill walking, rock climbing, scrambling or learn winter skills, then check out the subsidised BMC Active Outdoors courses. Suitable for all abilities and levels of experience there is something for everyone.
Read more »

BMC launches Access Land film to highlight the fight for better access
7
BMC launches Access Land film to highlight the fight for better access

This Valentine’s Day, show your love for our land by sharing the BMC’s new Access Land film to help campaign for better access to wild spaces.
Read more »

Support the Right To Roam in Wales
3
Support the Right To Roam in Wales

Only 20% of Wales is considered open access land. The BMC has been campaigning for increased access to nature in Wales for many years and is now calling for new legislation – a Right to Roam Bill.
Read more »

Post a Comment

Posting as Anonymous Community Standards
3000 characters remaining
Submit
Your comment has been posted below, click here to view it
Comments are currently on | Turn off comments
0

There are currently no comments, why not add your own?

RELATED ARTICLES

Active Outdoors: subsidised skills courses
1

It is time to Get Active Outdoors. If you want to start hill walking, rock climbing, scrambling or learn winter skills, then check out the subsidised BMC Active Outdoors courses. Suitable for all abilities and levels of experience there is something for everyone.
Read more »

BMC launches Access Land film to highlight the fight for better access
7

This Valentine’s Day, show your love for our land by sharing the BMC’s new Access Land film to help campaign for better access to wild spaces.
Read more »

Support the Right To Roam in Wales
3

Only 20% of Wales is considered open access land. The BMC has been campaigning for increased access to nature in Wales for many years and is now calling for new legislation – a Right to Roam Bill.
Read more »

BMC MEMBERSHIP
Join 82,000 BMC members and support British climbing, walking and mountaineering. Membership only £16.97.
Read more »
BMC SHOP
Great range of guidebooks, DVDs, books, calendars and maps.
All with discounts for members.
Read more »
TRAVEL INSURANCE
Get covered with BMC Insurance. Our five policies take you from the beach to Everest.
Read more »