Walking & Cycling Paths

Rescue Earth System

A series of looped trails is a stacked-loop trail system. A stacked loop trail system has several, interconnected looped trails. This creates an efficient, compact design with many route options.

Walking & Cycling Path System

Cycle Paths, Pedestrian Walkways and Hiking Trails

It is our ambition that cycling and walking become the natural choice for shorter journeys, or as part of longer journeys — and that Cycling and Hiking in nature become pervasive. Our approach to achieving our ambition is to work with many approved projects to develop and maintain the necessary infrastructure. All work will be done by our dedicated volunteer corps and the entire Walking & Cycling Path System is managed using an online GIS Management Platform.

Sustainable Urban Mobility Planning is a strategic plan designed to satisfy the mobility needs of people and businesses in cities and their surroundings for a better quality of life. It builds on existing planning practices and takes due consideration of integration, participation, and evaluation principles.

Urban green zones are perfect for more walking and cycling paths.

Cycle Paths, Pedestrian Walkways and Hiking Trails

The case for walking really does add up. Feel the benefits for yourself and join us by walking every day, everywhere.

By strategically placing strips of prairie plants in-between row crop or along streams and waterbodies, farmers can reap a multitude of benefits. Prairie strips can aid in reducing erosion and nutrient runoff, increasing habitat and food sources for wildlife, and stream bank stabilization

Become a Walking & Cycling Path Initiative Volunteer!
Build & Maintain, Cycle Paths, Pedestrian Walkways and Hiking Trails

Volunteering with the Walking & Cycle Paths Initiative allows you to choose from a variety of opportunities with various levels of commitment. From the boardroom to the trails, approved projects strive to create a culture of volunteer engagement where volunteers find meaningful ways to contribute. This is your opportunity to give back to your community, share your experiences, be a part of a team, learn new skills and develop lasting friendships.

By volunteering to work in Walking & Cycling Path Initiative projects you can be involved in activities such as:

  • fundraising for play park facilities and play equipment
  • ecosystem restoration and wildlife surveys
  • landscaping work as part of a Permascapes Permablitz
  • horticulture projects, such as working in Food Forests
  • picking up litter
  • holding fun days and events
  • giving guided walks and talks
  • etc. etc.
Trail Construction and Maintenance

We have a mission of building many new Cycle Paths, Pedestrian Walkways and Hiking Trails. Volunteer opportunities range from building the trails, bridges or boardwalks, to clearing trees and brush, shoveling and raking gravel, and weed-whacking.

If you are mechanically inclined, enjoy carpentry, or really enjoy getting your hands dirty with some good old-fashioned manual labour, then you might be interested in volunteering to help on the trail construction and maintenance projects — and trail maintenance is an ongoing volunteer opportunity.

Route Inspections

There are lots of ways you can help us look after the Cycle Paths, Pedestrian Walkways and Hiking Trails, such as: adopting a stretch of trail and walking it often to check for any problems, setting up a new geocaching trail, or even getting stuck in and helping with practical work. The main contribution is the vital role of carrying out regular inspections of the route.

A volunteer adopts one or more sections and inspects these a minimum of four times a year (once a season). The sections are shared with several volunteers, so together the route can be inspected every month. After each inspection we ask that the volunteer sends in a simple report form on the rescue.earth website as a record and so projects can enact any repairs needed. This allows projects to deal with any repairs quickly and effectively.

You don’t need any specific qualifications or previous experience. All you need is enthusiasm, some free time and an enjoyment of the great outdoors. Even if you’ve never done anything like this before it doesn’t matter. Everyone is welcome.

Volunteers are also encouraged to take photographs and make notes on the surrounding landscape and any wildlife they encounter. This additional information is really useful in monitoring the landscape of the route. Monitoring the route is a great way for volunteers to enjoy the local countryside and be involved in caring for it. This will be done via the our GIS Systems Cybertracker App which is currently being developed.

Practical Activities

As well as monitoring, there are always opportunities for volunteers to get involved in practical activities. These can include repairing signs, stiles, fences, surfaces, boardwalks and vegetation cutting.

Some small scale repairs are done by individuals, or with a member of staff, where an extra pair of hands is invaluable.

Other activities are carried out in supervised groups. These group activities are planned for different days of the week to suit and are generally held in the summer.

Geocaching

If this is something that you are particularly interested in helping us develop, get in touch as we need help in the creation of new Geocache series, and monitoring and maintaining of existing ones.

Volunteers tell us that they enjoy being a part of these activities, outside in the countryside and making a difference.

Office Activities

There are a number of office activities available to volunteers. These include information provision and helping to edit the Volunteer Newsletter.

As with all the activities, the volunteer time and roles are flexible and offer an opportunity to share ideas and be a part of the Rescue Earth System team.

Hiking trails through natural forests allow people to get close to nature.

The Benefits of Walking

We believe that walking is the key to a happier, healthier world. This is because almost everyone can do it – no matter their age, income, gender or ability. It is the easiest and most accessible form of physical activity that can become part of your everyday life. It is free, and no special equipment is needed.

Walk for Physical Health

A brisk walk can help you manage a healthy weight, strengthen muscles, and reduce your risk of some serious conditions including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and certain cancers.

Walk for Mental Health

It’s proven that a short walk can really benefit your mental health, particularly if walking in your local park, woodland or greenspace. Regular walking can reduce the risk of depression, stress and anxiety and promote positive mental health by helping you to sleep better, connect to nature and enhance your connection with your local area.

Walk for Social Health

Our evidence tells us that walking with others at work or in local walking groups creates social and wellbeing benefits that are just as important as the physical benefits walking brings. Supporting older adults to be active with others reduces isolation and loneliness.

Walk for the Environment

If more people walked more often, there would be a reduction in traffic congestion and pollution, and children would have safer routes to schools. By leaving the car for short journeys and walking instead, you can reduce your carbon footprint.

The case for walking really does add up. Feel the benefits for yourself and join us by walking every day, everywhere.

Some hiking trail infrastructure includes swinging bridges.