Communities On Foot Getting Started... A community walking scheme developed by Ramblers Cymru JH/March 2010 Contents Introduction Setting up a project Section 1........................................................................................................... • A quick guide to setting up the project 3 • Setting up the project Section 2........................................................................................................... Planning a walk • A quick guide to getting started 7 • Where to walk 10 • Finding your way 13 • A quick guide to grading walks 16 • Walks Grading 16 Useful information Section 3........................................................................................................... Health & Safety • A quick guide to the Doʼs & Donʼts of Walking 18 • General Safety Rules 19 • Body Matters 21 • Natural Hazards 23 Section 4........................................................................................................... Walking for people with special conditions • A quick guide to walking for people with special conditions 26 • Asthma 27 • Blind & Visually impaired people 27 • People with epilepsy 30 • People with limited mobility & wheelchair users 30 Section 5........................................................................................................... Printed Materials 35 Walking Needs Survey 36 • Rationale behind the survey 38 • Survey 39 Planning Walks • Walking Checklist • Risk Assessment • Walk Route • Walk Poster Footsteps Awards • Bronze Award • Silver Award • Gold Award Footpath Survey • Footpath Guardians 55 • Guidance Notes 56 • Survey Forms 57 1 JH/March 2010 Foreword By Clive Williams Senior Access Officer Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council The Communities on Foot is an exciting project that delivers positive results for both the community and the environment. By encouraging more people to walk in their local area not only do they get fitter but the quality (and sometimes quantity) of the footpaths they use improve. Walking is almost the perfect form of exercise that virtually anyone can take part in, not only that but itʼs free! There are motability scooters that enable people who wouldnʼt otherwise be able to access many non-paved footpaths, and walking is also open to those with other forms of disabilities with only a few considerations and preparation (see information sheet in the pack for more information). The contents of this pack were developed as part of a pilot project in 3 selected areas of Neath Port Talbot. The areas were Briton Ferry, Glyncorrwg and the ward of Pelenna (comprising the villages of Tonmawr and Pontrhydyfen). The pilot was established and facilitated by the Ramblers Cymru Field Officer Julie Hannam and supported by local Town / Community Councils, Development Trusts the Local Authority and other organisations (a full list of acknowledgements can be found at the back of the pack). 2 JH/March 2010 A quick guide to getting started 3 JH/March 2010 Communities on Foot in 5 easy steps 1. Decide on a start date and a few short local walks. 2. Publicise the walks in all your usual ways – posters and telling as many people as possible seem to work best. 3. Check out the walks a couple of days before to make sure they are still accessible and safe. 4. Print off the Footsteps Awards (to be found at the back of this toolkit). 5. Pack your rucksack (or bag) and away you go. Remember that you can always contact Ramblers Cymru for advice or guidance. Tel: 029 20 644 308 www.ramblers.org.uk/wales [Turn to the next page if you want a bit more detail or canʼt sleep…] 4 JH/March 2010 Starting the communities on Foot project Setting up a project in your local area couldnʼt be easier if you just follow the following key steps: • Get a Town / Community Council or local group to agree to take part in the project • Nominate or agree 4-5 people to take the project forward • Draw up a list of potential walks in the local area (these may be on footpaths or pavements). Give each walk a theme or point of interest to encourage people to take part e.g. Spring Flowers, Bats, Mountain Views etc • Make contact with the Local Authority (Council) Rights of Way Officer to check the routes you want to walk and let them know that you are launching this project • Also contact your local Ramblers group as they may be able to help you plan / lead walks and talk to people about the joys of walking (information available from Ramblers Cymru central office and website www.ramblers.org.uk/wales) • Decide on a start date and how / when to launch the project – at a community event / as an event in itself with a local celebrity etc • Have a rough plan of about 5-6 walks (and dates) before the launch so that you can talk to people about these at the launch • Print off the materials for the “Footsteps Awards” “Walking needs Survey” and Flyers about the “Footpath Guardians” • Use the blank posters included in the pack to advertise the launch. Also get those involved to talk to as many people as possible as word of mouth is always the best advert • Enjoy yourself and have fun meeting new people and exploring your community 5 JH/March 2010 Ideas from Ramblers groups to help you attract people These are in no particular order nor are they infallible! • Publicise both your walks and your group as widely as possible e.g. In local press, shops, libraries, hotels, pubs, surgeries etc • Have a presence at local fetes and carnivals • Keep existing members happy as most new members appear after talking to existing members • Ensure a range of different walks – long, medium and short distances • Try themed walks e.g. historic trail, bird watching or a photography outing • Shorter walks bring out more members • Family walks encourage children (future members) to come out • Vary the walks programme – weekdays, evenings in summer, alternate Saturday and Sunday walks • Encourage new members to lead walks using more experienced members to mentor them and accompany them on their recee • Use an appropriate “Walks etiquette” which might include a brief talk at the beginning, information about the group, a welcome to new members, introducing these people to others in the group who will make them welcome • “Brand” your group as local • Introduce a walking festival • The group itself needs to be a “bunch of caring and friendly people” • Once a member has joined a few walks encourage them to lead walks and help them to understand that the group relies on volunteers – but donʼt put them under any pressure!! 6 JH/March 2010 Planning a walk... Starting out A quick guide • Start out gradually and somewhere fairly flat– donʼt over do it on the first walk and put yourself off going out again • Make sure you can cut your walk short if necessary – always include “Escape Routes” in you route • There is no minimum distance you need to walk – most people can walk 2- 3 miles an hour. Remember to include time for rest stops and that unpaved paths will slow you down • Include a stop for a drink if possible (or bring along some refreshments). This will encourage people to talk about the walk and what theyʼve seen • Enjoy yourself [Read on for more detailed information] 7 JH/March 2010 Increasing Group Membership The following suggestions for increasing group membership come from individual members are those that will help you to keep your membership numbers up. None of these are infallible and not all will be appropriate for all circumstances. They are listed in no particular order: • Publicise both your walks and your group as widely as possible e.g. in local press, shops, libraries, hotels, pubs, surgeries etc • Have a presence at local fetes and carnivals • Keep existing members happy as most new members appear after talking to existing members • Ensure a range of different walks - long, medium and short distances • Try themed walks e.g. a historic trail, a visit to a stately home, bird watching or photography outing • Shorter walks bring out more members • Family walks encourage children (future members) to come out • Vary the walks programme - weekdays, evening in summer, alternate Saturday and Sunday walks • Encourage new members to lead walks using more experienced members to mentor them and accompany them on their recce • Use appropriate ʻwalks etiquetteʼ which might include a brief talk at the beginning, information about the group, a welcome to new members or those coming along for the first time who may be potential members and, introduce these people to others on the walk who will make them welcome • ʻBrandʼ your group as local • Introduce a walking festival • The group itself needs to be a ʻbunch of caring and friendly peopleʼ • Once a member has joined encourage them to lead walks and help them to understand that the group relies on volunteers - but donʼt put them under any pressure! Members have noted difficulties resulting from: Competing walking clubs, too much work falling on one group member (theʼwilling horseʼ), problems with the RAʼs membershp system, new RA groups being formed taking numbers away from existing groups and failure of the local press to include group reports prominently. But donʼt despair!!! With your help Ramblers Cymru will grow and suceed in achieving our charity aims. 8 JH/March 2010 First Steps As with any physical activity, itʼs best to begin gradually, learning the basics in safe surroundings and perhaps with other, more experienced walkers. Start by underestimating rather than overestimating your capabilities: youʼll soon learn how far you can walk before you start to feel tired. Donʼt push yourself too hard on distance and terrain: the idea is to enjoy yourself, and if you end up too stiff and sore it might put you off going out again. First try out short walks along level paths, in populated areas where there is transport and accommodation near to hand and you can easily cut your walk short if you get tired, or get help if you get into trouble.