By: COLIN HONEYBONE

COLIN HONEYBONE — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 08:17:15 +0000

I offer West Berks Ramblers as a shining example for volunteer work. To date a group of up to 25 members meet every two weeks and in unison with West Berks Council have cleared hundreds of miles of public footpaths. We have also replaced 130 unsafe stiles with gates.

By: Jill Phillip

Jill Phillip — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 21:19:07 +0000

Cornwall Ramblers’ initiative is interesting and, if copied around the country, could make the countryside an important litmus test of what Cameron and co actually visualize their Big Society to be. So far, the portents have been worrying, if predictable: the replacement of the Food Standards Agency with a group reflecting commercial interests such as, Pepsi Cola, McDonalds and the company behind turkey twizzlers, along with the ditching of a range of animal welfare measures after lobbying from the Countryside Alliance, among others.
Everyone with an interest in the countryside must take the opportunity to become involved, at community, local, national level, to ensure access remains open to all. Otherwise, for Big Society, read Big Business, or Big Landowners.

Comments on: Countryside in crisis

By: COLIN HONEYBONE

By: Jill Phillip