COUNTRYSIDE ISSUES WITH JOHN CRAVEN
New long-distance walking and cycling paths are great news for outdoor lovers.
“Nature can be enjoyed by all the family, no matter what your abilities or challenges”
It’s a safe bet that millions of us will be trying to work off that heavy Yuletide fare by heading into the countryside for some bracing walks or bike rides. Stretching those legs does wonders for body and soul, and exercise can be even more satisfying if it also helps a good cause, such as
Countryfile’s recent rambles for BBC Children in Need.
Many thousands of people across the UK, and as far away as Cyprus, took part in these sponsored walks; we counted at least 1,500 supporters on our five presenter-led ones. Among them were children with physical or mental disadvantages whose determination and courage inspired everyone as they struggled to reach the finish line, helped by families and friends.
I joined our accessible-to-all ramble along the lakeside at Padarn Country Park at the foot of Snowden in North Wales. Among those I met was nineyear-old Isabel, wheelchairbound, non-verbal and with complex needs. “Isabel finds being in nature calming and it is something that can be enjoyed by all the family, no matter what your capabilities or challenges,” said her mother Vicky Morrell. “Nature doesn’t judge, it just is.”
Isabel and Vicky belong to a project called Contact Wales, which brings together families of children with diverse disabilities at Forest Schools, funded by Children in Need. The mutual support they give can be a lifeline. “Children who attend make friends, feel less stressed and anxious, gain a sense of independence and enjoy simple pleasures, such as walking, climbing and making bread on open fires. Afterwards, parents report a huge improvement in their behaviour,” says Kate Wyke of Contact. “We are creating happy family memories and accomplishments to build on.”
Isabel struggles to cope at indoor events and often signs out within 15 minutes, but at a Forest School last summer she stayed for 100 minutes. On our ramble, she completed a triumphal five hours, and from across the country came similar stories of great achievements.
With around 241,000 km of public rights of way in the UK there was no shortage of walking routes for our supporters to choose from. When the England Coast Path opens in 2020 it will be the longest of its type in the world, stretching for 4,498 km (2,795 miles), and soon there might be even more routes.
AN EXPANDING NETWORK
Cyclists and horseriders are backing plans for a network of bridleways from Land’s End to John O’Groats, which could also be used by walkers and, in places, by people with wheelchairs and pushchairs. “It isn’t pie in the sky thinking,” Paul Tuohy, CEO of the charity Cycling UK, tells me. “It’s immensely feasible; looking at our existing bridleways and national trails and just filling in the blanks to create hundreds of miles of uninterrupted off-road trails. At present, the fractured bridleway network often forces cyclists and horseriders on to busy roads.” The British Horse Society points out that 230 horses and 39 riders have been killed in road accidents in the past decade. It believes the proposed 1,600-km-plus route is a “fantastic opportunity to enjoy safer, off-road riding”.
Whether walking, biking or riding this festive season I hope you have a safe time and as much enjoyment as everyone did on the Countryfile rambles. To support BBC Children in Need, go to bbc.co.uk/pudsey.