The Ramblers' Association is an environmental organisation campaigning to encourage walking, open up public footpaths, protect the countryside and secure the freedom to roam on mountains, moors, heaths, downs and common land in England and Wales. We have been involved in many important campaigns and it is largely through our work that today's legally-protected network of public footpaths exists.

We have also been at the forefront of several key campaigns to protect the environment, such as the fight to stop the privatisation of Forestry Commission land and have long been at the forefront of the fight to stop open cast mining. We also work against other threats to the natural environment, such as housing developments on green field sites and hedgerow destruction.

We have more than 137,000 members in 500 local groups in 57 areas throughout England, Scotland and Wales and all groups organise regular walks for members. The walks, collectively, take in all the beauty of the British countryside.The Ramblers campaign to encourage walking in the countryside among all ages and social backgrounds. Walking is good for the body. It's good for the heart. It's good for the lungs. It's good for the muscle and bone growth of children. And it's good for one's sense of wellbeing.

The Ramblers campaign to open up all public footpaths. At present, a quarter of the 140,000-mile rights of way network in England and Wales is either deliberately blocked or obstructed. To help keep footpaths open, more than 1,000 of our volunteers work in all conditions to clear paths and carry out surveys of local rights of way networks. They also analyse proposals to divert or delete paths and report obstructions to local authorities.

How to join.

• Visit the Association's web site where online facilities exist, as well as details of payment by cheque and Direct
Debit.

• Contact your local Group Secretary who will send you a membership form. (If you don't know which is your local
group, email us with your postcode and we will mail you details.)

• Turn up for a walk or two then if you enjoy our company, ask the walk leader for a membership form.

Visit the Ramblers' Association web site