Tag: Ramblers

Ramblers: Stay safe when walking through the countryside

As people all around the UK and Ireland bask in the heatwave, more of us are keen to get out and enjoy the sunshine.

And given the last 18 months of lockdowns, whether people have needed a break from work or have gone on staycation, many people have relied on a stroll through the countryside to escape.

It can work wonders for your health by improving fitness, relieving stress, helping sleep and building self-esteem. The benefits of being out in the countryside can be bountiful … as long as you respect, protect and enjoy it.

This year’s Health and Safety Executive Fatal Injuries in Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing for Great Britain 2020/2021 report highlights how farm-related incidents don’t just happen to those working in the agricultural industry.

Tragically, all those who enjoy our beautiful countryside for leisure activities can be at risk. The sad fact is, since 1st April 2020, seven members of the public, including two children, have suffered fatal injuries on GB farms. All adult fatalities were a result of coming into contact with cattle, while one child was exposed to slurry fumes and another suffered a quad bike incident.

It is vital to remember that a field of wheat, oats or barley may look pretty but crops like these are actually someone’s livelihood. Help to prevent damage to yourself and the crops by walking around the edge of a field unless there is an existing path across it.

Every year, the agriculture industry reports fatalities for members of the public in the workplace. This is why leading agriculture charity, the Farm Safety Foundation, is urging people to take care in the countryside as part of its ninth annual Farm Safety Week campaign.

Stephanie Berkeley, Manager of The Farm Safety Foundation, said: “Many people have rediscovered the joys of the countryside during this pandemic and we expect this to continue.

“It is fantastic that ramblers and dog-walkers are enjoying the mental and physical benefits of our great outdoors, but be aware that farms are not playgrounds or parks and you need to be considerate to the farm and the wildlife that live there.

“While most people who visit the countryside are keen to act responsibly, serious farm related incidents can be due to a lack of understanding of what the farmland is being used for and what your responsibilities are when visiting.

“Before heading out on a walk, remind yourself of The Countryside Code, prepared by Natural England, which makes things simple so everyone can have the best chance of enjoying our wonderful rural surroundings and coming home safe.”

COUNTRYSIDE CODE TOP TIPS FOR WALKERS

Understand that farms and fields are someone’s place of work and, often, someone’s home so:

  1. Park carefully to keep access to gateways and driveways clear.
  2. Leave gates and property as you find them.
  3. Follow paths and don’t venture into field where there are crops growing.
  4. Farmers will do their best to make sure that their animals are used to walkers and may put signs and fencing to keep you away from the animals. Make sure you follow the path and keep your dog on a lead and under effective control.
  5. Stop, look and listen on entering a field. Look out for any animals and watch how they are behaving, particularly bulls or cows with calves.
  6. If your dog starts to bark as you enter the field return the way you came and calm the dog and wait for the herd to settle.
  7. Be prepared for cattle to react to your presence, especially if you have a dog with you.
  8. If the herd are on or near the path, wait for them to move gently away.
  9. Move quietly and predictably so that they are not alarmed by you.
  10. Avoid getting between cows and their calves.
  11. If the herd does react and chase you, report it to the farm or the footpath officer so that they can help keep people safe.

For more information on Farm Safety Week visit www.yellowwellies.org or follow @yellowwelliesUK on Instagram/Twitter/Facebook using the hashtag #FarmSafetyWeek

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Ramblers Scotland launch #RoamSweetHome campaign

Ramblers Scotland has launched a new campaign called #RoamSweetHome to inspire everyone to keep active safely during the coronavirus pandemic.  

The multi-faceted campaign is also urging people to keep connected during lockdown – both with landscapes and each other ­– for their physical and mental wellbeing.

The charity is urging everyone who can safely do so to stay active in their homes, balconies and gardens and during daily short walks from their front doors.

People are being urged to share their mini-adventures using the #RoamSweetHome hashtag, to inspire others and to keep connected with the outdoor community. Details at ramblers.org.uk/roamsweethome.

Ramblers Scotland director Brendan Paddy said: “Sadly, last month we had to suspend all our group walks, social activities and volunteering programmes – as everyone’s safety must come first.

“But we hope the #RoamSweetHome campaign will keep walkers’ spirits up with lots of great advice, activities and entertainment, all in line with official guidance on social distancing and safe exercising.

“Our members have already been doing great work to look after each other and stay connected in innovative ways. For example, Linlithgow Ramblers will climb the height of Beinn na Lap on their stairs this weekend, as one of their members’ virtual ‘final Munro’. Loads of other Ramblers groups are running fun online events to help the outdoors community through this challenging time.” 

The #RoamSweetHome campaign includes:  

  • A series of ‘Lockdown Diaries’ blogs by Ramblers Scotland’s president Lucy Wallace – an outdoor instructor and wildlife guide based on Arran – on topics such as litter-picking, garden nature and equipment DIY
  • Free maps to more than 700 short, circular ‘Medal Routes’ walks in every Scottish local authority area: ramblers.org.uk/medalroutes
  • Local Ramblers groups’ online events; such Linlithgow Ramblers’ virtual Munro, Eildon Ramblers posting photos of their individual lockdown walks and Balerno Ramblers sharing YouTube videos of their past walks each week. 
  • Resources and information to help the Ramblers’ 54 Scottish groups stay connected with their members, via message boards, email groups, online conference calls, virtual coffee mornings and more. 
  • A #RoamSweetHome step challenge, with supporters across GB joining in, getting their ‘step counts’ up in the weeks and months ahead.
  • Online advice on maintaining health and wellbeing under lockdown, including live chats and online blogs from health and nutrition experts.
  • A Ramblers Great Walking Quiz, to be live streamed in the coming weeks using Facebook Live, with themed questions on the Ramblers’ 85-year history.

If you choose to walk for exercise you are advised to only walk locally to where you live. You should walk alone or with people from your household. You should not walk with friends or in groups. Keep 2m (6ft) distance from anyone you pass on your walk.  

The Scottish Government has published advice, which Ramblers Scotland strongly supports, on access rights during coronavirus at bit.ly/accessrightsCOVID19. Read more here.

 The Ramblers’ latest COVID-19 advice for supporters, members and volunteers is at: ramblers.org.uk/coronavirus 

 The Ramblers’ work to help everyone enjoy the benefits of walking is supported by players of the People’s Postcode Lottery.

Is your neighbourhood made for walking?

  • Ramblers launches search for Britain’s Best Walking Neighbourhood
  • Call for people in Scotland to nominate their neighbourhood 

The Ramblers organisation is calling on people in Scotland to nominate their area for Britain’s Best Walking Neighbourhood Award. The walking charity is searching for the places that put pedestrians first and lead the way in enabling residents to walk every day for transport or leisure.

 Now in its second year, Britain’s Best Walking Neighbourhood Award celebrates local authorities, developers, individuals and communities that have made positive changes to help make neighbourhoods more walkable – from making routes and public spaces greener, to building mixed-use developments that encourage active travel, to improving the way local streets connect people to the places they want to go. 

Vanessa Griffiths, Ramblers chief executive, said: “We have a vision of a country designed for walking, in the open countryside, and close to where we all live and work.

“By making it easy for people to walk their everyday local journeys, we help them live more active, healthier lives. Not only that, we help tackle some of society’s biggest problems including growing levels of obesity, social isolation, congestion and air pollution.  Sadly, for many of us the areas we live in have been designed to favour cars rather than people, making walking unsafe, or unpleasant. 

“With this award, we want to highlight the places and people already doing a great job to make walking easier in their local neighbourhoods.

“We also want to encourage others to think about the small changes they could make to improve the walkability of their neighbourhoods and health and wellbeing of their residents, while creating more vibrant communities.” 

The Ramblers believes that one of the most important features of a walking neighbourhood is its ‘greenness’ or how well it connects people to the natural environment.

Local green spaces and routes make areas more attractive to walk and provide opportunities for physical activity as well as to relax, recharge and connect. 

People living near green spaces are more likely to be physically active [1], with research showing that those who live within 500m of accessible green space are 24% more likely to meet recommended levels of physical activity.[2]

Vanessa added: “The majority of us live in built up areas, and evidence shows that communities highly value green spaces and routes in their neighbourhood and hugely benefit from having regular contact with the natural environment.

“We are keen to hear about neighbourhoods that have improved or created new green routes, spaces or features, because we know that these make neighbourhoods more appealing for walking, whether it’s for leisure or as a means of getting from A to B.” 

DG1 in Dumfries made it to the final of last year’s award. The once a run-down and neglected neighbourhood was transformed by an injection of funding. The community developed their own innovative solutions to problems they had identified in the area. This included the creation of five civic spaces with street furniture, cycle parking, noticeboards and planters; street lighting upgrades; new street signs and the addition of places for people to stop and rest. 

A neighbourhood is any district, community or area where people live and work – it could be the heart of a big city, or a small village with just a few streets and houses. 

The finalists will be chosen by an expert panel and the winner will be decided by public vote in summer 2019. 

To nominate your neighbourhood, visit 

www.ramblers.org.uk/nominate 

and tell us about the changes that have made it into a great place for walking.

The deadline for nominations is 3rd March 2019.