Cookham Bridleway Circuit
Friday, October 07, 2005
The British Horse Society welcomes the launch of Cookham Bridleway Circuit in Berkshire
The British Horse Society has welcomed the launch of a new bridleway circuit around the picturesque parishes of Cookham and Bisham, Berkshire.
The launch resulted from the cooperation between the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, parish councils and local landowners.
As well as using existing bridleways, Roads Used as Public Paths (RUPP) and village roads, the 11-mile circuit incorporates two new permitted bridleways on Woodland Trust land, a new permitted bridleway across private land, and almost two miles of National Trust permitted bridleways.
The circuit took more than a year to develop, with local users, landowners and parish councillors being consulted along the way.
There was initial resistance to the route, based upon a concern that the circuit would encourage more horse-riders on to busy village roads.
An information leaflet and map have been produced to accompany the circuit. These will inform riders of the best places to ride, and warn them of specific hazards they might meet along the route, such as road crossings and steep sections.
It is hoped that providing horse-riders with improved information about the local routes will benefit all users of the path and road network.
As well as including the new Country Code, the leaflet also gives some riding safety tips, and urges riders to stay on the designated paths within the Site of Specific Scientific Interest (SSSI) of Bisham Woods.
Attendees of the successful launch included the Mayor of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, Chairman of the Royal Borough's Rights of Way and Highway Licensing Panel, representatives from the National Trust, Woodland Trust and the BHS, and local parish councillors.
Local horse-riders also came for a photo-shoot before setting off to ride part of the circuit.
Penny Reid, BHS Berkshire Chairman, said: "A council which has done as well as this for horses and riders is pure gold and deserves every accolade that the BHS can heap upon it."
For further information please contact: Vanessa Depre, Communications Executive, The British Horse Society, 01926 707737 / v.depre@bhs.org.uk
