WALKING THIS WAY? THE FUTURE? What will the countryside look like in another 70 years? We put the question to some top outdoor personalities: what are their hopes – and biggest fears?
“I’d love to see well-built trails developed for low-level options in mountainous areas. For example a classic ‘tour de Snowdon’ path would encourage people to get out and take the pressure off tourist routes
such as the Llanberis Path. However, I fear that misaligned reluctance persists that building a man- made path somehow detracts from the outdoors.”
SARAH RIDGWAY, LLANBERIS-BASED MOUNTAIN RUNNER AND GUIDE
WWW.RUNSNOWDONIA.COM
“I hope that our countryside will retain its superlative variety, with wild places expanded and eyesores removed, and former heaths
and downs restored from intensive agriculture providing places for wildlife and people. I fear that every green space will be developed and eroded, and our national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty degraded and suburbanised.”
Kate Ashbrook, general secretary of the Open Spaces Society
“My hope is that the diversity and integrity of our countryside remains intact, with environmentally- friendly farming, rural investment and protection for nature at the heart of government and fi scal
policy. My fear is that the countryside will continue to be seen as a luxury rather than a necessity, and as a resource to be exploited rather than valued.” Ruth Chambers, national parks campaigner and policy specialist
“I'd like to think that the
countryside will continue to be protected and
maintained. Perhaps more so, with some rewilding projects in full swing in
many of our remote valleys and gorges. We have some world-class countryside here in the UK, but it's
worth remembering much of it has been shaped for millennia by the hands of man. For example, I'd like to see more restoring moors for water-retention/fl ood prevention, diversifying habitats for wildlife and
replanting of native trees and shrubs. Furthermore, I truly hope society becomes much more aware of our landscapes and our place within it.”
TERRY ABRAHAM, LANDSCAPE VIDEOGRAPHER
“Hopefully the hills will not look too different. I hope there will be more access, such as free car parks, and wind turbine
development will have stopped. Perhaps the lower areas around the towns may become more manicured and developed with visitor centres, but in winter, the
fells will look as timeless as ever.” Alan Hinkes, mountaineer
“I hope the hills will be wilder, with more trees and more wildlife, and more of it will be protected against
development. However, I fear too much will be damaged by bulldozed roads, intensive farming and wind farms.”
Chris Townsend, writer and the BMC's fi rst hill-walking ambassador
“Successive governments have claimed they cherish our last remaining wild places while actively seeking to develop them. Building infrastructure in national parks and other precious landscapes won't ameliorate climate change, and is a disaster for biodiversity. We have to stand up and defend the places we love because no one else is going to do it for us.”
Ed Douglas, writer and BMC vice president
P What does the future hold for this view - over Keswick to Skiddaw and Blencathra from Causey?
80 | 70TH ANNIVERSARY | FOR BRITISH CLIMBING AND WALKING SINCE 1944
PHOTO: STEWART SMITH.
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