MonLife’s Countryside Access Service has teamed up with Bethany Handley to raise awareness about improving access for all.

Funded through the Welsh Government Access Improvement Grant, two videos have been filmed to raise awareness and train volunteers/landowners about the need to remove barriers for people accessing the county’s countryside.

Bethany Handley is a resident of Monmouthshire, a member of Monmouthshire’s Local Access Forum and serves as an ambassador for Country Living’s Access for All campaign, Wales Coast Path, National Trails and Ramblers Cymru. She has been recognised as one of the ten most influential disabled people working in the UK’s politics, law, and media.

Bethany Handley stated: “We all have access requirements. One in five people are disabled. At some point in our lives, we may all experience a disability.

“When you exclude one individual, you also exclude their family and friends. There are ways for everyone: volunteers, landowners, and those walking and wheeling on trails to make our paths more accessible to all”.

Cllr Mary Ann Brocklesby, Leader of Monmouthshire County Council, noted: “Monmouthshire was the first authority in Wales to adopt (in 2004) a policy of least restrictive access. Because of the policy we are committed to reducing barriers to access on the rights of way network and removing existing stiles.

“It’s one of the ways we are tackling disadvantage within communities. I am delighted we are working in partnership with Bethany and getting out the message that the countryside is for everyone.

“Improving the accessibility of our public rights of way network is core to what we do. It makes it easier for people to incorporate walking, riding or cycling into their everyday lives and supports active healthy lifestyles. We would like to thank all the landowners, organisations and volunteers that work with us to remove barriers and make our countryside more accessible for all.”  

Cllr Sarah Burch, Cabinet Member for Rural Affairs, Housing, and Tourism, added, “We are very proud to have been able to support and enable community volunteer groups to be actively engaged with countryside projects, creating sustainable and resilient communities.

“Thanks to the Access Improvement Grant we now have 17 active volunteer groups who have been supported with training, equipment and materials.

“They have undertaken miles of surveys and in the past two years have helped to improve access by removing stiles and replacing them with gaps or gates(68). They have also cleared vegetation from eight miles of paths and 466 pieces of furniture.  Many more paths are lined up for improvements in 2025 and we are looking at ways we can now promote them better.” 

If you are interested in removing barriers or joining a countryside access volunteer group, please get in touch with the Countryside Access Team by emailing countryside@monmouthshire.gov.uk

For more information, and to view the videos, you can also visit monlife.co.uk/outdoor/countryside-access/countryside-access-projects-delivery-plan/