A record number of MPs and Lords took to the hills to walk along the Edale Skyline with the British Mountaineering Council (BMC), on the annual walk of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Mountaineering (Mountaineering APPG), co-chaired by David Rutley MP.
The Peak District’s Edale Skyline is a classic for hill walkers and runners alike. Along the route, there was a chance for the parliamentarians to try their hand at rock climbing at Upper Tor.
The walk gave MPs an opportunity to discuss the New Strategy for Sport consultation set out by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. The strategy looks at how to use sport to improve lives and ensure public funding goes to organisations that can get more people active. Specifically, MPs reflected on the value of walking, climbing and mountaineering to the health and wellbeing of the nation, and the impact that everyday outdoor recreation can have alongside mainstream sporting activities.
Nine MPs and Peers, including David, walked alongside representatives from leading outdoor organisations such as BMC president Rehan Siddiqui, BMC access officers and colleagues from the Ramblers and the Peak District National Park. The BMC represents a growing membership of over 80,000 keen climbers, mountaineers and hill walkers.
David said: “It’s good to see interest in outdoor recreation increasing and the membership of the BMC growing; I think this is a sign that more people are getting outdoors and discovering the adventurous possibilities of our wonderful countryside. Everyday outdoor recreational activities are a positive way to tackle the challenge of physical inactivity and it is great to see more parliamentary champions promoting them.”
The ‘skyline meeting’ also allowed for discussions on how adventure activity and minority sporting activities such as climbing and hill walking can be adequately voiced and supported in the Peak District and beyond. National Parks for example, have been keen to fund new cycle paths and trails but there remains a whole range of needs for other people too. The ‘walk and talk’ meeting explored issues such as funding and the challenges now facing the National Park as well as the value of partnership working.
Dr Cath Flitcroft, BMC access & conservation policy officer said: “A large number of MPs are now engaged with the outdoor agenda. I have been pleased that we have had been able to take the opportunity to talk to them in an informal setting about a number of local and national issues. We’re keen to highlight the importance of partnership working and explore ideas as to how National Parks can continue to deliver crucial environmental, economic and social benefits to both local communities and the nation.”