High Sheriff Awards Hertfordshire Rights of Way Countryside Management Volunteer

On Friday 12^th July High Sheriff of Hertfordshire Annie Brewster JP presented her first Making a Difference Award for Outstanding Service to Improving the Environment for Wildlife and People to the Hertfordshire Rights of Way Countryside Management Volunteers.

 

This is an independent group populated with volunteers who carry out physical improvements to the Rights of Way network improving access for users. Many individuals in these group also contribute to the Parish Surveyors scheme, walking all paths in their chosen parishes and reporting issues.

 

These groups were set up about 8 years ago when the Countryside Management Service (CMS) identified that there were a lot of tasks proposed by their Access Officers that weren’t appropriate for the regular weekday teams, the jobs being too small to keep the whole team busy. Many of the volunteers are interested in improving the Rights of Way, so CMS set up these groups to be able to go out and do ‘small fixes’ - mend a bridge, install 5 or 6 new waymarks, or build some steps. The group will also sometimes clear overgrown paths or bridleways to make sure the rights of way are accessible. They do the sorts of jobs that are suitable for up to 10 people for a morning, rather than 20 people for the day. The tasks are popular with the volunteers for a number of reasons, they get to go to places in the county where they wouldn’t normally go and jobs are generally of a kind where they can really see that they’ve made a difference. For the County Council and the public, they provide an incredibly valuable service, keeping paths open and safe to use.

 

The High Sheriff of Hertfordshire, Annie Brewster JP said:

“I was thrilled to surprise the East Herts Rights of Way Task Force with a High Sheriff Countryside Management Service Award in conjunction with Herts Sport & Physical Activity Partnership. Enormous thanks to this team of talented volunteers who maintain our Rights of Way network in the east of the county enabling thousands to use Hertfordshire's Footpaths, Byways and Bridleways FOC. Today it was rebuilding a rotten bridge! We have over 2,000 miles of rights of way in Hertfordshire, immediately on our doorstep, to enjoy and keep fit on!”

 

Hertfordshire Rights of Way Countryside Management Volunteer, Bob Leader shared:

“Volunteering with Hertfordshire Countryside and Rights of Way is a great way to make a positive impact on our footpaths and bridleways. We carry out tasks that would otherwise be performed by contractors. In addition, the benefits to our volunteer group is that we remain fit and active and socialise in a fun and productive environment. A win, win situation!”

 

Thank you to Herts County Council for their continued support of the Countryside Management Service and helping keep Hertfordshire’s pathways open and safe to use. If you’d like to get involved with volunteering with your local group or find out more visit the Countryside Management Service website here: www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/countrysidemanagementservice