treadlightly! is a new charity formed by GLASS. CRAG and TRF to try and protect greenlanes and educate users to behave more responsibly when using them.

For some years each of these organisations has been working through their own membership base to encourage a more responsible attitude and to organise voluntary repair and maintenance projects. Now that they have decided to join forces behind the treadlightly! brand, we can be sure that their effort and resources will be maximised.

treadlightly!! sets out to protect motorised recreational access opportunities through education, partnership working, and conservation initiatives

The effects of NERC and CROW have significantly diminished the number of greenlanes that are available for motorised recreation and have also increased the volumes of traffic on the remaining lanes.

Countryside Access Officers are having to work with reducing budgets and the pressure on them to TRO routes has never been greater.

treadlightly! believe that by getting all of the users to work together on voluntary restoration projects and to engage them in an ongoing education programme, it is possible to establish a partnership approach to protect and improve the remaining lane network.

In Wales, the project has been extremely successful in just a few months and partnership maintenance, waymarking and enforcement projects are already underway which are starting to change Authorities’ attitude towards motorised users.

As a registered Charity, treadlightly! can leverage funding from a variety of sources that Highways Authorities cannot tap into and can then add to that the significant value of volunteer labour. In addition, treadlightly! intend to attract corporate sponsorship from companies supplying the sector to help to make RoW budgets go further.

The charity has already been successful in securing funding to enable a Project Manager to be engaged to co-ordinate the launch and promotion of the treadlightly! programme. The intention now is to appoint a number of local Ambassadors who will liaise with Countryside Access Officers and local volunteer groups to get maintenance, waymarking, and enforcement projects up and running.

The programme is based in a very successful initiative that has been running in the USA for over 25 years and has achieved significant credibility through education and restoration programmes. The programme has attracted funding and support worth millions of dollars from the likes of Landrover, Jeep, BF Goodrich etc. The UK team hope to emulate this success and are using the indoor 4x4 Show at Bingley Hall to launch the programme to 4x4 Users and the trade alike.

The show will offer an ideal opportunity for Greenlaners to find out more about the programme and sign up to go on the volunteer register or even become a member. treadlightly! will also be running a draw at the show with some fantastic prizes donated by the industry including: Two nights Bed and Breakfast Accommodation for two at Orme Court Hotel in Llandudno http://www.ormecourt.co.uk  – fantastic 4x4 friendly accommodation in the heart of some great greenlaning country!

Visit www.treadlightly-uk.org for more information.