Learn more about the walking, cycling and horse riding opportunities that exist within the Merthyr Tydfil County Borough area, by coming along to the Walking and Cycling Awareness Day on Tuesday, 23rd March at Merthyr Tydfil Leisure Centre.
You will be able to access lots of information from various sources including the Council, Brecon Beacons National Park, Sustrans, The Ramblers Association, Countryside Council for Wales, BTCV Cymru Groundwork Trust and many more.
The event, which has been organised by the Council’s Public Rights of Way Section is taking place between 9:30am and 4pm, and will offer various activities throughout the day, including the chance to try out Nordic Walking along the Taff Trail at 11am and 2pm, which will be led by Age Cymru Nordic Walking Programme.
Members of the public will also be able to take advantage of a free basic cycle safety check if they bring their cycles as well.
Jane Davidson, Assembly Member for Environment, Sustainability and Housing will officially launch the ‘Adopt a Path Scheme’ at 10.15am.
Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council is the first Authority in Wales to launch the Adopt a Path Scheme. It encourages users of our Public Rights of Way network to become involved with the management of the routes they use by agreeing to walk at least one route a minimum of three times a year.
In doing so participants of the scheme will be asked to report the following issues noted on their walk;
1) Any obstructions on the path, damaged stiles or gates, or any locked gates
2) Any lack or damaged waymarkers or signs
3) Any vegetation that obstructs the path
Any issues are reported back to us, it will help to prioritise remedial works.
In conjunction with the Adopt a Path Scheme, the Council’s Rights of Way Section is working in partnership with the BTCV Cymru to develop and launch a Volunteer Path Ranger Programme. This scheme is part of the Family Employment Initiative which has two main goals which are:
1) To get communities and individuals involved and engaged in their local environment, and
2) To give participants the relevant skills and training which will self motivate, improve confidence and to gain experience which will help them into employment.
Groups who sign up to the Path Ranger Programme will also join the Adopt a Path Scheme. The groups will be supervised and will be equipped to carry out simple but essential maintenance on the network such as replacing waymark discs, local vegetation clearance and gate adjustment. They will be issued with a basic tool pack which will assist with this and will also be provided with basic training on map reading and health and safety which will be provided by BTCV.
For further information, contact Beth Jones, Public Rights of Way Officer, by phoning (01685) 727309 or e-mailing [email protected]
