The Ridgeway's 50th anniversary
Inspiring new ways to enjoy the Trail and welcome new visitors
2023 is the year to discover The Ridgeway's famous people and places and influence its future
Since The Ridgeway was officially opened as a National Trail by Lord Nugent in 1973, the Trail has had hundreds of thousands visitors and many stories to tell.
Everyone is invited to enjoy events along the Trail throughout 2023 and discover new free materials which celebrate history, myths and memories and also imagine the next 50 years. Highlights will be picked out by our anniversary patron Mary-Ann Ochota who is a broadcaster, outdoor adventurer and mum-of-two. Mary-Ann has presented on TV and radio including Channel 4’s Time Team with Tony Robinson and featured on BBC Radio 4’s ‘Ramblings‘ with Clare Balding, and has written two best-selling books on Britain’s landscape and secret archaeology. Throughout the year, Mary-Ann will be celebrating and sharing Ridgeway stories.
Everyone has the opportunity to discover something new and special about the Trail’s people and places with the ‘Ridgeway Top 50’ on the Ridgeway’s social media and website. The Top 50 reveals the oldest monument, the rarest flower, the famous writers, the mysterious druids and more. Everyone is invited to share ideas about the Top 50 and what they would like to see along The Ridgeway in 50 years time, bearing in mind topics such as the ‘climate crisis’, wellbeing, development and inclusion. This will create a vision for the Ridgeway’s future – the Ridgeway Future 50 vision – and everyone is invited to help realise this vision by being a caring visitor, volunteering and donating resources.
As the Chair of the Ridgeway Partnership, Simon Kearey says, “The Ridgeway has been an important routeway in our nation’s history and imagination for centuries. Key events took place along the route, including King Alfred’s battles with Viking armies in the 10th century and Churchill’s famous radio speeches from Chequers during World War II. Its atmospheric ancient monuments are rich with stories and legends, including the forging of the sword Excalibur for magician Merlin, Tolkien’s fantasy world ‘Lord of the Rings’ and also the most recent Star Wars film! It is special to have such a rich heritage open to everyone to enjoy, free of charge. We want the anniversary year to be a time when we welcome new visitors and share ideas on how we can keep The Ridgeway special for future generations.”
Everyone is invited to celebrate The Ridgeway’s anniversary and a range of events and new free materials launching in 2023. The weekly Ridgeway Top 50 and monthly #RidgewaySpotter challenge will be free and easy ways for the public to discover what is special about the Trail.
To mark the 50th anniversary, we have published a new visitor information leaflet with a new illustrated map of the Trail. Printed copies are available from local tourist information offices and our online shop.
A new ‘Ridgeway timeline’ is included in the new leaflet which invites visitors to ‘time travel’ through the ages from 100 million years ago when chalk was created to 1973 when The Ridgeway was officially opened as a National Trail.
The new #RidgewaySpotter guide provides year-round inspiration for visits to The Ridgeway with monthly challenges for all ages.
There will be special events around the Trail and on social media throughout the year from January to December, as well as the usual annual sporting and fundraising events. So that everyone can get involved, some events can be done in your own time and are self-led – this includes a free monthly challenge designed by Friends of the Ridgeway called #RidgewaySpotter.
Obtain a free download of the #RidgewaySpotter guide here.
The calendar of Ridgeway annual sporting and fundraising events will be available here from January.
The special anniversary events programme will be published here shortly. Key events to look forward to include:
Many events are free, whilst some have a small charge. Details about any charges are provided in the events programme.
Free activities which can be done in your own time include the monthly challenge designed by Friends of the Ridgeway called #RidgewaySpotter.
Obtain your free download of the #RidgewaySpotter guide here.
Other free events:
Bookings are made through the event organiser, NOT through this website. Booking information is available in the listing for each event on our events webpage.
The Ridgeway Top 50 comprises a list of 50 stories of fact and fiction revealing special Ridgeway places and people. Images and recommended places to visit are included to inspire people to experience the Top 50 first-hand.
Every Sunday at 7pm from 8th January to 31st December, a new entry will be revealed to gradually build a complete list of 50 on the Ridgeway’s website and Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts.
These posts will encourage everyone to share what they think about each entry and to propose ideas for the next 50 years which will shape the Ridgeway Future 50 vision.
Social media posts will focus on the highlights of each entry, whilst full details of each item will be available on the Ridgeway website as the year unfolds. The complete Top 50 will be available from January 2024.
There is the intention to publish a book of the Top 50 in 2024, complete with notable contributions collected from the public through the year. This book will represent a collective memory and souvenir of the anniversary and sales in future will generate funds for future work on The Ridgeway. If you are interested in helping fund this publication, please email ridgeway@oxfordshire.gov.uk. A minimum of £50 is requested. All donors will be listed in the publication.
As well as celebrations, the anniversary will also be raising awareness of the exciting and also serious matter of how everyone can look after The Ridgeway and secure its future. With longterm concerns around the climate, economy and wellbeing, there are lots of things we could aspire to deliver along The Ridgeway. Everyone is invited to share ideas on what they would like to see along The Ridgeway in the next 50 years on social media (#Ridgeway50) or by email. Ideas for the Ridgeway Future 50 vision shared with us so far can be seen here.
To realise a vision for the future, we need to secure support and resources. As well as enhancing the Trail, there is also the ongoing maintenance challenge as National Trails are suffering wear and tear at all times. National Trails across the country are managed to a high standard so that the public can enjoy recreational routes that are amongst the best in the world and accessible. Trail volunteers are critical to the practical maintenance of The Ridgeway, such as installing signage. The 50th anniversary is a significant opportunity to attract support and funding.
Alongside volunteering and being a caring visitor when on the Trail, individuals can help by providing feedback, donations, sponsorship and grants. Everyone is encouraged to join the charity Friends of the Ridgeway, e.g. it costs £8 a year for individual membership. A list of specific projects inviting volunteers, grants, donations, sponsorship etc will be made available here soon and will be shaped by the Ridgeway Future 50 vision. Existing projects needing support include the Ridgeway Riding Route project in the Chilterns and drinking water fountains.
Everyone, of all ages and backgrounds, is invited to tell us what they would like to see along The Ridgeway National Trail over the next 50 years. Everyone’s contributions will help us shape the Ridgeway Future 50 vision.
Ideas submitted by various people through the anniversary year can be seen here.
Topics to consider include people’s wellbeing, climate crisis, biodiversity crisis, local tourism economy and development. The Ridgeway Top 50 could also spark some ideas
You can send your ideas to us via Facebook, Twitter or Instagram (#Ridgeway50) or by email ridgeway@oxfordshire.gov.uk.
We have a long-running volunteer scheme and we always welcome volunteers although some activities are over-subscribed. In 2021, our volunteers were awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service so they are a great bunch to join!
Details about volunteering are on our website here.
Any size donation is welcomed. We encourage individuals to donate to the charity Friends of the Ridgeway with whom we work alongside (charity number 1107926).
Text to donate from £1 to £20 to the charity Friends of the Ridgeway. Text RIDGEWAY followed by your donation amount to 70560, e.g. RIDGEWAY £3. Texts cost the donation amount plus one standard network rate message.
Donate online here.
If your donation is from a company or you intend to donate more than £250, please contact the Ridgeway Officer to discuss specific projects where your donation is best allocated: ridgeway@oxfordshire.gov.uk.
A list of specific projects inviting donations will be made available here soon and will be shaped by the Ridgeway Future 50 vision, but existing projects needing support include the Ridgeway Riding Route project in the Chilterns and drinking water fountains.
We welcome enquiries about sponsorship, particularly around sponsors for our volunteer scheme we share with the Thames Path National Trail. Our volunteers were awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2021.
Please email the Ridgeway Officer ridgeway@oxfordshire.gov.uk. Thank you.
The charity was established in 1983 and works with the Ridgeway Partnership to secure a positive future for The Ridgeway National Trail. It is easy to join online.
Membership rates as at June 2022 are:
Individual £8, Family £15, Lifetime £80.
Charity number 1107926.
Special postcards, posters and booklets are being designed to celebrate the anniversary and to raise funds for projects on The Ridgeway. These items will be available from the National Trails online shop on this website and from the following outlets along The Ridgeway (to be confirmed).
Some materials will also be available free of charge as downloads from this website, e.g. #RidgewaySpotter guide, new Ridgeway leaflet.
Details about anniversary activities will be made available on the Ridgeway’s website, social media and e-newsletter.
E-newsletter: Stay updated by subscribing using this online form or emailing ridgeway@oxfordshire.gov.uk
Facebook @RidgewayNationalTrail #TheRidgeway
Twitter: @TheRidgeway1972
Instagram: @TheRidgeway1972
If the above sources of information do not provide you with the information you need, you can email your enquiry to ridgeway@oxfordshire.gov.uk.
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