MPs and Lords took to the hills on 16 September to climb the Carneddau Horseshoe in Snowdonia with the BMC on the annual walk of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Mountaineering (Mountaineering APPG).

The climb came three days after an important Parliamentary Sports Fair where numerous sport and recreation All Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs) came together to promote sport and recreation to Parliamentarians, with the aim of encouraging them to become grassroots ‘champions’ in their own constituencies – arming them with the relevant motivation, contacts, tools and information to do so. 

Eight MPs and Peers, including local MP Gutto Bebb and co-chairs of the Mountaineering APPG, David Rutley MP and John Mann MP, walked alongside BMC president Rehan Siddiqu, BMC access officers and colleagues from the Ramblers, Mountain Training, Plas Y Brenin and the Sport and Recreation Alliance. The BMC represents a growing membership of over 80,000 keen climbers, hill walkers and mountaineers.

The ‘summit meeting’ also provided the opportunity to discuss the wider benefits of outdoor recreation. The Department for Sport Sporting Future strategy demonstrates that Government values the contribution sport makes to the health, well-being, economic and social fabric of Britain and recognises the value that outdoor recreation plays as part of this. In order to realise this potential however, the BMC is calling on Parliamentarians to help get more people active in their own constituency: the Mountaineering APPG and Sport APPG have recently published a leaflet ‘How to Champion Outdoor Recreation in your constituency’ to help MPs and Peers do exactly this. 

David Rutley MP, co-chair of the Mountaineering All Party Parliamentary Group said: “It’s vital to help get more people off the sofa and become more active outdoors. The health and well-being benefits are clear, and this will also create a real boost to rural tourism. Encouraging Parliamentarians to become Outdoor Recreation Champions in their own constituencies is a great way to support this vital initiative.

Dr Cath Flitcroft, BMC access & conservation policy officer said: “The walk is a great opportunity to highlight to Parliamentarians the need for continued political support and investment in outdoor activities and our existing rights of way and open access network, particularly given Brexit and what this might mean for sport and recreation. We also talked about the need for greater public understanding and awareness of where people can go in the countryside and what they can do, which will help improve the number of people visiting and exploring our hills, mountains, coast and countryside.”

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