Call for Walking Festival ideas

Walk leaders and event organisers are being asked to suggest routes and activities for The National Forest Walking Festival 2020.

Taking place in May next year, the high-profile event will once again be free to enjoy, and ideas are now being pulled together to make it even more successful than before.

Those with ideas for the 2020 festival are being encouraged to download and complete the form on the National Forest website by Tuesday, October 1.

Previous themes have included Nordic walking, educational strolls and pushchair walks while map-reading, geocaching and orienteering have been among Festival activities.

The annual festival takes in vast swathes of the 200 square miles and eight-and-a-half-million trees of The National Forest across Derbyshire, Staffordshire and Leicestershire.

Cllr Martyn Ford, Leader of South Derbyshire District Council said:

“We’re lucky to have such a stunning and scenic feature on our doorstep. We’re keen to see new ideas for routes and activities to help people discover and enjoy what the Forest has to offer.

“We’re looking forward to enjoying the Festival and welcoming all types of walkers to South Derbyshire, from complete beginners to experienced ramblers, and hope ideas will come in that encourage this to happen.

“If you have a feasible idea for the Festival, please complete the form.”

South Derbyshire District Council helps to fund the festival, along with Leicestershire County Council and the National Forest Company.

More information is available by calling Swadlincote Tourist Information Centre on 01283 222848 or emailing tic@sharpespotterymuseum.org.uk. You can also keep up to date on Facebook by searching for ‘The National Forest Walking Festival’.

18 September 2019