Success Stories
BBC Breathing Places
The BBC is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world and can therefore make
a huge impact by promoting positive environmental messages to the nation.
As part of BBC Learning, the BBC is campaigning for the creation and care of green
spaces in local areas. You can get ideas; see past projects, and find ‘breathing
places’ in your local area on their website. A national campaign that
you can get involved with locally.
Their ‘Do One Thing’ concept offers simple ideas to help adults and
children, at home or in schools, to interact with nature and their own ‘breathing
places’.
By signing up to BBC Breathing Places online, you can receive newsletters to keep
you up to date with new ‘breathing places’ around the country.
Walk London – Exemplar walking routes
Having a well signed, accessible and pleasant environment to walk in means people
are more likely to return, and may also become more adventurous in discovering new
places in which to walk.
Walk London, funded by Transport for London, is working with all 33 London boroughs
to manage, maintain and promote six strategic walks that cover 533km of routes in
the Greater London Area – providing an amazing opportunity for everyone to
discover the Capital on foot.
The routes are designed to be exemplars of best practice, and provide people with
a quality walking experience. You can visit www.walklondon.org.uk
to view and download free information on all 6 routes.
In 2007-08 all 6 routes were surveyed to enable a three year programme of work to
be developed and agreed with the boroughs, to ensure the routes are enjoyable and
accessible to walkers.
This was done using LAMS (London Access Management Systems) – an innovative,
GIS based, information management system. The user-friendly system holds information
on furniture, problems and works completed for each route, as well as data about
accessibility and other information of value to the public arena.
By having this system available to route managers and boroughs, the walking environment
is being improved and traditional deterrents to walking are being addressed systematically,
appropriately and efficiently, providing:
- good on-site signage;
- interpretation and practical maps to key destinations;
- accessible footways and paths that are in good condition and well lit;
- resting places at appropriate intervals;
- road crossings; and
- promotion and events that entice and fulfil expectations of a quality experience.
If you would like to find out more about LAMS, then please contact the Walk London
LAMS Data Manager [email protected].
The Royal Parks Agency
The Royal Parks Agency has recently invested in new mapping to help improve how
we walk and enjoy our Parks in central London. The new mapping is featured
in the new Department for Transport Mapping guidance documents prepared by Walk
England and will be used to help launch Walk England on 18th June in Richmond Park.
BTCV (The British Trust for Conservation Volunteers)
BTCV (The British Trust for Conservation Volunteers) runs a successful project called
‘Green Gym’ www.btcv.org.uk/greengym. Ten years since it first started,
there are now more than 95 Green Gyms across the UK.
Volunteers, often referred by their GP, join in conservation activities in their
local area. The tasks they undertake to improve the natural environment often
include footpath clearance and upgrading meaning that the wider community also benefits
through improved access. Several Green Gym projects work in tandem with local health
walks groups. Research has shown that taking part in Green Gym sessions can help
improve self-esteem and reduce depression.
If you would like to share your success stories with us, please contact
us.