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The Definitive Map and Statement is the statutory record of public rights of way -- footpaths, bridleway, restricted byways and byways open to all traffic -- which is conclusive evidence of the rights marked on it, without prejudice to those not yet shown. That apparent contradiction arises from recognition that the process of preparing the Map, begun in 1949, was flawed, resulting in an incomplete and inaccurate record and this episode explores its story of the last seventy five years.

The Definitive Map and Statement is the basis of every task a public rights of way officer undertakes, whether they work directly with landholders, or the public, or with the legalities of maintaining the Map itself so it's important to understand its history and current situation.

Harry Goodchild, Definitive Map Team Manager at Hampshire County Council and Fiona Plane, Definitive Map Officer at City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council talk to Gemma about how the Definitive Map came about, how its omissions are slowly being rectified, and the immensity of the task that aims to be fair to all involved.

The views of speakers and the presenter are not necessarily those of IPROW. Nothing in any IPROW podcast should be taken as legal advice or used beyond the context of the podcast. The podcast is aimed at IPROW's members, a knowledgeable audience, though not expressly limited to them.

Find out more about membership of IPROW

IPROW is the Institute of Public Rights of Way and Access Management, which was established in 1986 as the membership organisation representing professionals involved in the management of public rights of way and access in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, principally as local government officers (and then called the Institute of Public Rights of Way Officers).

It has grown into an active and dynamic network providing advice, training, advocacy and networking to its members.

Mission Statement

To represent and promote the views and interests of members, raise professional standards, encourage the exchange of ideas and information in public rights of way and access management, and foster communication and co-operation between related bodies.

James Nevitt & Spencer George of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (D.I.O.) of Ministry of Defence (M.O.D.) talk about their Respect the Range campaign, aiming to raise public awareness of how the MOD training estate is used and what the public need to know and consider in planning their route or using the land.

Towards the end of the episode, there is a request for ideas for the CSF Project, which can be send to [email protected].

The views of speakers and the presenter are not necessarily those of IPROW. Nothing in any IPROW podcast should be taken as legal advice or used beyond the context of the podcast. The podcast is aimed at IPROW's members, a knowledgeable audience, though not expressly limited to them.

Find out more about membership of IPROW

IPROW is the Institute of Public Rights of Way and Access Management, which was established in 1986 as the membership organisation representing professionals involved in the management of public rights of way and access in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, principally as local government officers (and then called the Institute of Public Rights of Way Officers).

It has grown into an active and dynamic network providing advice, training, advocacy and networking to its members.

Mission Statement

To represent and promote the views and interests of members, raise professional standards, encourage the exchange of ideas and information in public rights of way and access management, and foster communication and co-operation between related bodies.

Last episode we were talking about planning and development, and as a sequel, here we talk about provision of SANGs -- Suitable Alternative Natural Green Space -- with Stephen Jenkinson, and including dog-walking by design. Stephen started in public access as a rights of way officer and moved to countryside access, specialising in dogs and how public access can be managed to include dog-walking.

A primary benefit of owning a dog for many people is that it takes them outside, 'makes' them walk, with gains for their health and wellbeing (as well as the dog's). Landholders' most common resistance to public access is dogs, but how much of that perception results from inadequate public access and ignoring dog-ownership in planning and a failure to provide green space? Join Stephen and Gemma for a wide-ranging conversation of creating opportunities and managing access to be inclusive of dog-walking to the benefit of all.

The views of speakers and the presenter are not necessarily those of IPROW. Nothing in any IPROW podcast should be taken as legal advice or used beyond the context of the podcast. The podcast is aimed at IPROW's members, a knowledgeable audience, though not expressly limited to them.

Find out more about membership of IPROW

IPROW is the Institute of Public Rights of Way and Access Management, which was established in 1986 as the membership organisation representing professionals involved in the management of public rights of way and access in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, principally as local government officers (and then called the Institute of Public Rights of Way Officers).

It has grown into an active and dynamic network providing advice, training, advocacy and networking to its members.

Mission Statement

To represent and promote the views and interests of members, raise professional standards, encourage the exchange of ideas and information in public rights of way and access management, and foster communication and co-operation between related bodies.

Every rights of way officer comes in contact with the planning system, from consultations on Local Plans or Local Transport Plans to the effect of building development on rights of way. Developments range from a workshop or house extension to a new quarry, 3,000 houses or a distribution centre. Understanding the system and how it works can be beneficial to ensuring intervention for public access is appropriate and at the best time.

This is a huge topic, so watch out for more episodes on other aspects of development. Here we consider, in three chapters:

1. Demystifying the terminology and jargon 
2. The planning and rights of way legal processes and how they interact
3. The countryside under pressure, and its impact on public access

It is also closely allied to IPROW's course, The Planning System and Securing Positive Outcomes from Development.

The views of speakers and the presenter are not necessarily those of IPROW. Nothing in any IPROW podcast should be taken as legal advice or used beyond the context of the podcast. The podcast is aimed at IPROW's members, a knowledgeable audience, though not expressly limited to them.

Find out more about membership of IPROW

IPROW is the Institute of Public Rights of Way and Access Management, which was established in 1986 as the membership organisation representing professionals involved in the management of public rights of way and access in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, principally as local government officers (and then called the Institute of Public Rights of Way Officers).

It has grown into an active and dynamic network providing advice, training, advocacy and networking to its members.

Mission Statement

To represent and promote the views and interests of members, raise professional standards, encourage the exchange of ideas and information in public rights of way and access management, and foster communication and co-operation between related bodies.

Many organisations rely heavily on volunteers, from mountain rescue to a high street shop, and the rights of way and access sector is no different. Equally, volunteer opportunities may be welcomed by people who gain considerable satisfaction from their unpaid role. In rights of way and access, we need to think broadly to make the most of potential volunteers. The obvious is the practical maintenance work, but in this episode we talk to people about volunteer work covering  records research, input to geographic information systems, liaising with rights of way officers on best value for users, and work for IPROW.

Find out more about membership of IPROW

IPROW is the Institute of Public Rights of Way and Access Management, which was established in 1986 as the membership organisation representing professionals involved in the management of public rights of way and access in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, principally as local government officers (and then called the Institute of Public Rights of Way Officers).

It has grown into an active and dynamic network providing advice, training, advocacy and networking to its members.

Mission Statement

To represent and promote the views and interests of members, raise professional standards, encourage the exchange of ideas and information in public rights of way and access management, and foster communication and co-operation between related bodies.

Asking rights of way workers how they came into their current roles could provide as many different answers as there are people, and the majority have fallen into it by accident!

In this episode, we talk to Charlotte Ditchburn, whose career covers a unique range, with a number of moves. The difficulties of her early career  will be familiar to many listeners – how do you gain experience when all jobs demand experience, in a low paid sector with high reliance on unpaid labour, which you may not be able to afford to undertake? – but Charlotte's progression of her career will also be inspirational, both for those starting out and others who may be feeling 'stuck'.

The lack of qualification and recognised career path is frustrating for anyone who wants to work in the rights of way sector. This is why IPROW is looking closely at apprenticeship as 'a way in', as well as to improve skills of those already in the sector. Episode 6 tells you more about how apprenticeships work, and there will soon be a future episode with apprenticeships in roles other than maintenance/ranger work.

The views of speakers and the presenter are not necessarily those of IPROW. Nothing in any IPROW podcast should be taken as legal advice or used beyond the context of the podcast. The podcast is aimed at IPROW's members, a knowledgeable audience, though not expressly limited to them.

Find out more about membership of IPROW.

IPROW is the Institute of Public Rights of Way and Access Management, which was established in 1986 as the membership organisation representing professionals involved in the management of public rights of way and access in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, principally as local government officers (and then called the Institute of Public Rights of Way Officers).

It has grown into an active and dynamic network providing advice, training, advocacy and networking to its members.

Mission Statement

To represent and promote the views and interests of members, raise professional standards, encourage the exchange of ideas and information in public rights of way and access management, and foster communication and co-operation between related bodies.

Apprenticeships have changed enormously in their history and no longer only the remit of manual trades, they've even reached the rights of way and access world and can be a great asset to both employers and employees as a path for in depth training while working. In this episode, we talk to LANTRA about the background to modern apprenticeship, Sparsholt College about their provision of training and to both an apprentice and team leader about how apprenticeship works in practice for maintenance work. In a future episode, we will discuss potential for apprenticeships in definitive map, public path order and enforcement roles.

The views of speakers and the presenter are not necessarily those of IPROW. Nothing in any IPROW podcast should be taken as legal advice or used beyond the context of the podcast. The podcast is aimed at IPROW's members, a knowledgeable audience, though not expressly limited to them.

Find out more about membership of IPROW

IPROW is the Institute of Public Rights of Way and Access Management, which was established in 1986 as the membership organisation representing professionals involved in the management of public rights of way and access in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, principally as local government officers (and then called the Institute of Public Rights of Way Officers).

It has grown into an active and dynamic network providing advice, training, advocacy and networking to its members.

Mission Statement

To represent and promote the views and interests of members, raise professional standards, encourage the exchange of ideas and information in public rights of way and access management, and foster communication and co-operation between related bodies.

Trees are natural accompaniments to public rights of way, mostly alongside them and managed by their owner, usually the adjacent landholder. Sometimes they obstruct by low branches encroaching on the height or width of the right of way 'corridor', particularly a problem on bridleways and byways where the extra height for equestrians has not been accommodated. Branches or trees may fall across routes, an increasing risk with diseases such as Ash Dieback. Obstruction can also occur from planting in the surface of the right of way or lack of maintenance may fail to control seedling or sucker growth. In other words, trees can be a big chunk of the rights of way officer's job! This episode provides background on tree management and views from a tree officer and a ranger.

The views of speakers and the presenter are not necessarily those of IPROW. Nothing in any IPROW podcast should be taken as legal advice or used beyond the context of the podcast. The podcast is aimed at IPROW's members, a knowledgeable audience, though not expressly limited to them.

Find out more about membership of IPROW

IPROW is the Institute of Public Rights of Way and Access Management, which was established in 1986 as the membership organisation representing professionals involved in the management of public rights of way and access in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, principally as local government officers (and then called the Institute of Public Rights of Way Officers).

It has grown into an active and dynamic network providing advice, training, advocacy and networking to its members.

Mission Statement

To represent and promote the views and interests of members, raise professional standards, encourage the exchange of ideas and information in public rights of way and access management, and foster communication and co-operation between related bodies.

The field of public rights of way and access is much broader than is generally assumed and the podcast will meet people in a wide variety of interesting roles. In this episode, member Dr Tom Breen, a landscape historian, joins us to talk about In All Our Footsteps, which explores how rights of way were recorded following Parliament’s requirement to do so in 1949, and the importance of rights of way in relation to access to nature and activities integral to human health and wellbeing, both in the past and the present. It is a cross-disciplinary project taking a historical, health, and policy perspective to the mapping, use and development of rights of way in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. 

Read more on In All Our Footsteps. 

Dr Breen provides training for IPROW on use of historical landscape records arising from inclosure, tithe commutation and the Finance Act 1910 for research into the existence of public rights of way.

The views of speakers and the presenter are not necessarily those of IPROW. Nothing in any IPROW podcast should be taken as legal advice or used beyond the context of the podcast. The podcast is aimed at IPROW's members, a knowledgeable audience, though not expressly limited to them.

Find out more about membership of IPROW

IPROW is the Institute of Public Rights of Way and Access Management, which was established in 1986 as the membership organisation representing professionals involved in the management of public rights of way and access in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, principally as local government officers (and then called the Institute of Public Rights of Way Officers).

It has grown into an active and dynamic network providing advice, training, advocacy and networking to its members.

Mission Statement

To represent and promote the views and interests of members, raise professional standards, encourage the exchange of ideas and information in public rights of way and access management, and foster communication and co-operation between related bodies.

Glass or fibre reinforced plastic has been around a while, with cautious consideration for use in ROW furniture. Early experiences in the 90s had finger posts bowing in the sun, and bridge deck boards springing from their fixings. Much has improved, but there are still downsides, along with the obvious lack of rot and supposed longevity and reduced maintenance commitment. How does it stack up in practice?

The views of speakers and the presenter are not necessarily those of IPROW. Nothing in any IPROW podcast should be taken as legal advice or used beyond the context of the podcast. The podcast is aimed at IPROW's members, a knowledgeable audience, though not expressly limited to them.

Find out more about membership of IPROW

IPROW is the Institute of Public Rights of Way and Access Management, which was established in 1986 as the membership organisation representing professionals involved in the management of public rights of way and access in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, principally as local government officers (and then called the Institute of Public Rights of Way Officers).

It has grown into an active and dynamic network providing advice, training, advocacy and networking to its members.

Mission Statement

To represent and promote the views and interests of members, raise professional standards, encourage the exchange of ideas and information in public rights of way and access management, and foster communication and co-operation between related bodies.