The Wiltshire and Swindon Countryside Access Forum is looking for new members to help shape the Wiltshire countryside, access to it, and outdoor recreation in the county.
The forum gives advice to organisations such as Conservative led Wiltshire Council, Swindon Borough Council and Natural England to improve outdoor recreation within Wiltshire, setting its own agendas depending on local issues and helping the local authorities shape their priorities and policies.
Members are volunteers and include a range of people of all ages and background from throughout Wiltshire, including countryside users such as walkers, cyclists, horse riders, motorcyclists and 4x4 vehicle users; health and conservation groups; and land owners and land managers.
Conservative Cllr Bridget Wayman, Wiltshire Council Cabinet Member for Highways, said: "Wiltshire is a beautiful rural county, and the Countryside Access Forum is an essential part of ensuring our countryside is as accessible as it can be for residents and visitors.
"The forum and its members help to shape the future of our countryside, and so we welcome applications from people of all ages and backgrounds. Anyone with a keen interest in the Wiltshire countryside and rural issues should apply to help make a difference.
"The forum has previously been successful in helping to improve the maintenance of the county's rights of way network, and so this represents a great opportunity for those with a keen interest in our countryside to join the forum and have their say."
Meetings are held up to four times per year, usually on a Thursday afternoon, and there are occasional project-specific working groups for members who wish to get more involved.
If anyone would like a greater say in the Wiltshire countryside and would like to help shape future policy, they should go to www.wiltshire.gov.uk/recreation-caf and apply before Friday 21 February. Or, to find out more, they should contact [email protected].
