April 20th 2009

HORSE RIDERS IN THE WEST MIDLANDS ENJOY NEW COUNTRYSIDE ROUTES

Horse riders in the West Midlands can now enjoy previously inaccessible sites - thanks to the National Trust and its tenant farmers.

Trot approached the conservation charity three years ago, during a Defra funded project for expansion and development of their scheme in the South East and West Midlands.  A formal partnership between the National Trust and TROT was negotiated, and now the two charities are delighted to announce the first two route openings in the West Midlands.

Following the agreement, riders can now enjoy the picturesque views offered at the Brockhampton Estate and adjoining privately owned Whitbourne Estate in Herefordshire and the Dudmaston Estate in Shropshire.

Riders are invited to attend the Official Opening of these routes, to be held on Saturday 16^th May 2009 at Dudmaston, Shropshire, and on Saturday 23^rd May 2009 at Brockhampton and Whitbourne Estates, Herefordshire .

Jo Burgon, the National Trust's Head of Access and Recreation welcomed this partnership.

He said: “The National Trust has a long history of providing and extending access opportunities for a range of recreation activities.

This scheme to enable horse riders to enjoy and experience traffic free riding is to be applauded and it also adds new routes and makes better connections to the existing bridleway network.

We welcome riders who are sensitive to the wildlife and farmland through which they ride.”

Chrissy Bacon, West Midlands Regional Development Officer for TROT said:

“We are delighted to be working in Partnership with the National Trust with the common aim of providing horse riders with a safer and more enjoyable environment.

Riding on the roads today is becoming ever more difficult in the face of ever increasing volumes of traffic.  Even some of our country lanes are becoming 'no go' areas for horse riders.  Trot's exciting scheme, enabling co-operative collaboration between riders and landowners, aims to solve the difficulties by opening up areas of the countryside but leaving the landowner in control of who has access to the land and at what times.

By opening its gates to TROT the National Trust is not just offering riders access to a safer environment, but also the rare privilege of unprecedented access to some of the most glorious locations in England.”

Riders will be able to fully appreciate the relaxation of riding off-road, enjoying untold hours of pleasure discovering areas of beauty and tranquillity previously unknown to them.

Both routes provide in excess of 10 miles of off-road riding, crossing over parkland areas and pastureland, along farm tracks and through ancient woodlands. The longer circular routes are inter-linked with shorter circular rides offering riders a variety of routes of varying lengths. Both routes offer stunning views of the surrounding counties of Shropshire, Herefordshire, and Worcestershire, and riders will be able to enjoy long canter stretches, or to ride quietly whilst enjoying the diversity of nature and wildlife, which abounds undisturbed in these beautiful locations.

The Dudmaston route has the added attraction of a three mile stretch running through meadows along the banks of the beautiful and peaceful River Severn. Riders can also safely link from the TROT route via quiet country lanes across to the Alveley Country Park and over the River Severn on to the Jack Mytton Way, giving access to over 100 miles of rural bridleways and quiet lanes.

The Brockhampton and adjoining, privately owned, Whitbourne Estate offer riders breathtaking views, quietude and tranquillity. The route also links directly on to Bringsty Common, 220 acres of common land designated a Special Wildlife Site and a haven for birds and butterflies. Riders from further afield also wishing to enjoy this route can do so, as there is Bed and Breakfast accommodation available for horse and rider in a 16^th century farmhouse on the Brockhampton Estate, and groups can enjoy a self-catering farmhouse holiday with their horses on the Whitbourne Estate, both giving direct access on to the TROT Route.

The glorious surroundings of Whitbourne Estate and Longlands Farm are owned by the Evans family. Bill Evans manages the woodlands, and Julia the farm, keeping Pedigree Beef Shorthorn cattle and lleym sheep. Julia also runs a riding for the disabled group based on the farm.

The Dudmaston, Brockhampton and Whitbourne routes, as well as our other TROT routes, (there are now over 100 routes across England), are clearly waymarked with rider friendly gates making them accessible to riders of all ages and abilities.

We would like to acknowledge and offer our thanks and gratitude to the participating tenant farmers. Without their kind permission and active support these routes would not have been possible.

It is our hope to extend our work with the National Trust and other Estates across the country, enabling riders to minimise the risks they and their horses face when riding out today, and to help ensure the future of off-road riding.”

For further information about these and other TROT routes call TROT on 01622 735599 or email info@tollrides.org.uk or visit our website at www.tollrides.org.uk

For those wishing to attend the Official Opening at Dudmaston please call Delyth Mottershead on 07973 521391 or to attend the Brockhampton and Whitbourne Opening please call Sharon Clayton on 07981175695, pre-booking is essential as numbers will be restricted.

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(Photos Available upon Request)

For further press information please contact Chrissy Bacon, Regional Development Officer, West Midlands Region on: 01684 311392 or 07813 066680

For Further National Trust press information please call Jo Mason on 01743 708 194

Notes to editors

Toll Rides (Off-Road) Trust - formerly South Eastern Toll Rides was established in 1990 by Dora Pilkington and some other like-minded riders, who were concerned at the growing amount of traffic on their local roads. Their approach to local farmers, with the help and encouragement of the NFU, the Country Landowners Association, DEFRA and Natural England, led to the first toll ride being opened on agreed tracks and headlands.

TROT routes are set up without prejudicing existing Rights of Way. TROT’s work clearly compliments the valuable work the BHS does in protecting and improving the statutory Rights of Way - it does not act as a substitute.

TROT is a Charity and very reliant upon its volunteer workers, who do the invaluable work of opening up our rides and networks. They also give up their time to make sure the tracks stay safe and do not become overgrown or abused by non-members. The Charity now has over One Hundred route networks, offering hundreds of miles of off-road riding in nine counties nationwide, including thirty-five Forestry Commission managed areas of forest and woodland.

The scheme works by riders/carriage drivers paying a fee according to how many miles of toll routes are open in their ‘hackable’ radius. Once a rider/driver becomes a member of TROT they can use ALL other farm or forestry routes nationwide for no extra fee. Non-members can also access TROT routes as Day Membership is also available. Sixty percent of the members’ fees go to the farmer/landowner, with the remaining thirty per cent going towards the costs of administration.

A good network of off-road riding can lead to further rural economic benefits for the farmer and or his neighbours. For Example : increased revenue for existing businesses such as Farm Shops, Tea Rooms, Pubs etc., and or the opportunity to diversify into livery or horse tourism, such as B&B or self-catering holidays for horse and rider.