The next phase of the BMC’s effort to improve its work for hill walkers was launched last weekend in the Peak District.
Participants in the special members’ forum last Saturday enjoyed a walk in slightly ‘bracing’ weather, a presentation on the BMC’s future plans, lunch and a lively discussion in the Royal Hotel, Hayfield.
The BMC is aiming to become the natural home for hill walkers. The BMC’s hill walking officer, Carey Davies, gave a presentation on the progress so far and the long-term plans for the future which are currently taking shape.
Attendees heard about the changes already made, including an increased emphasis on hill walking in the BMC’s campaigning work, a more than 100% increase in hill walking-related articles on the BMC website, an equally significant increase in the number of pages devoted to hill walking in Summit magazine, the creation of a hill walking Twitter feed, and the appointment of Chris Townsend as an ambassador and hill walker Greg Mulholland MP as a Parliamentary Sports Fellow.
But there are bigger changes to come. A document designed to affect long-term, sustainable change in the organisation was recently ratified by the BMC’s National Council. People who attended on Saturday were given the chance to read this document and provide feedback.
It sets out a raft of possible changes across the whole spectrum of the BMC’s work, including access and conservation, communications, marketing, public engagement, structure and organisation, and suggests ways in which these aims can be measured.
Attendees also heard a talk from BMC Independent Director Brian Smith, formerly the Chief Executive of HF Holidays and a keen hill walker.
A lively discussion followed, largely centred on the plan to set up a volunteer working group which can oversee and implement a hill walking strategy for the future. Places on the group are limited, so most people present would not be a direct part of the group, but it was agreed to keep everyone informed as a ‘Friend’ of the working group through emails and newsletters.
The idea is to get people in and around the BMC who would like to see it take hill walking more seriously to be active participants in our efforts rather than simply spectators. This was a good first step in this direction. One participant described it as “the start of a journey.”
The forum followed on from a similar event earlier this year, also held in Hayfield.
For more photos of the day check out Mike Beaumont's album on Flickr.
READ MORE: Examples of BMC campaigning work for hill walkers
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